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Restoration of the mined section the Middle Fork John Day River began in 2011. The last major construction effort was completed in 2016. Over two miles of salmon-bearing streams were treated and reconstructed to benefit both fish and other ecological processes. The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs own the Oxbow Conservation Area and managed this project effort. Dredge mining occurred on this property from 1939 to 1943. Tailings were leveled in the 1970s, but the river was locked into a ditch-like channel, lacking habitat and function. For more information, see wsfish.org
Published on Dec 16, 2016 |
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Salmon Cycles: Fish In-Fish Out
Fish-in and fish-out monitoring is the counting and tracking of adult salmon coming in (fish-in) to spawn and the number of juvenile or young fish headed to sea (fish-out). Measuring this transition tells us the extent that freshwater habitat and marine habitat affect the salmon numbers overall. Published on Feb 25, 2015 by Washington RCO |
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Project Effectiveness Monitoring
Project effectiveness monitoring addresses whether habitat restoration projects are effective in achieving their goals.By measuring environmental conditions, habitat characteristics, and biological indicators, scientists can begin to answer questions such as: Did planted trees provide shade for the stream? Did logjams increase channel complexity? This monitoring is critical for learning the degree to which certain types of projects achieve their goals. The results are used to help design better restoration projects. Published on Feb 25, 2015 by Washington RCO |
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Intensively Monitored Watersheds
The Intensively Monitored Watersheds program asks the question: Is restoration working to increase salmon numbers? This monitoring program compares the number of salmon from streams where habitat restoration was done to similar streams nearby without such work. This shows if changes in fish survival and productivity are due to restoration efforts or to other factors not related to stream restoration. This program has led to scientific findings about salmon life strategies and habitat needs and helps improve designs of restoration projects. Published on February 25, 2015 by Washington Recreation and Conservation Office |
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Restoring Juvenile Habitat: Oxbow Conservation Area
The Oxbow Conservation Area, located on the Middle Fork John Day River, exhibits critical habitat for Chinook salmon, steelhead and bull trout. Dredge mining severely channelized the riverbed in the 1940s leading to a straightened channel and disconnected floodplain. The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs teamed up with the Bureau of Reclamation and a variety of other partners to restore two miles of river channel affected by mining. Watch the accomplishments made in 2014 on the third of five phases of restoration to the site. Published on February 11, 2015 by Bureau of Reclamation |
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From the Field: Middle Fork John Day River
During a site visit, our monitoring team recorded some Chinook and whitefish hanging our below a tributary of the Middle Fork John Day River where The Freshwater Trust restored flow. The water temperature coming out of the tributary was 8 degrees cooler than in the Middle Fork, so the fish were seeking refuge in the cooler water as it came out of the tributary. Published on September 30, 2013 by The Freshwater Trust |
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Middle Fork John Day River: Reach 1
Channel reconfiguration near Mosquito Creek, below Galena on the Middle Fork. The aim of this project was to re-meander the river from its previously artificially straightened state, thereby reconnecting it with its floodplain. Published on September 25, 2013 by The Freshwater Trust |
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Oxbow Phase 2 Timelapse
Time Lapse video for Oxbow Tailings Restoration Project, Phase 2 on the Middle Fork John Day River, near Bates, Oregon. Work Completed in summer of 2012. The project added about 900 feet to Granite Boulder Creek to restore its path to the undredged channel. This project removed the straight north channel that had been capturing Granite Boulder Creek. Published January 11, 2013 by Brian Cochran |
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Fish ‘Disneyland’: Happy Place for Fish in the John Day Basin (Oxbow Conservation Area)
BPA, the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs and other partners are restoring a magical place for fish in north central Oregon known as the Oxbow Conservation Area. On July 26, nearly 100 project staff and volunteers turned out to the Upper Middle Fork John Day to remove fish and other fauna from a 3,400-foot artificial ditch that was created by mining activities in the 1940s. By filling-in the man-made ditch and constructing a new 1,200-foot section of Granite Boulder Creek, the Middle Fork John Day River will have improved water flows during summer months, which is critical for spring Chinook salmon and steelhead spawning.
This was the second phase of a restoration project in the 1,022-acre Oxbow Conservation Area owned by the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs, which is home to some of the best spawning grounds for spring chinook in the entire Columbia River Basin. The project focuses on habitat protection and enhancement that benefits habitat for spring Chinook salmon, steelhead, bull trout and other species. Efforts include extensive tree and shrub planting, floodplain and river channel restoration, correction of fish passage problems, weed control, and irrigation usage.
The Oxbow Conservation Area restoration project is one of several projects supported under BPA's Columbia Basin Fish Accord agreement with the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs. It is sponsored by Ecotrust, Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board, Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund (through National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and Columbia River Intertribal Fish Commission), U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Bonneville Power Administration.
Published October 25, 2012 by Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) [Video credit: Brian Cochran]
BPA, the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs and other partners are restoring a magical place for fish in north central Oregon known as the Oxbow Conservation Area. On July 26, nearly 100 project staff and volunteers turned out to the Upper Middle Fork John Day to remove fish and other fauna from a 3,400-foot artificial ditch that was created by mining activities in the 1940s. By filling-in the man-made ditch and constructing a new 1,200-foot section of Granite Boulder Creek, the Middle Fork John Day River will have improved water flows during summer months, which is critical for spring Chinook salmon and steelhead spawning.
This was the second phase of a restoration project in the 1,022-acre Oxbow Conservation Area owned by the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs, which is home to some of the best spawning grounds for spring chinook in the entire Columbia River Basin. The project focuses on habitat protection and enhancement that benefits habitat for spring Chinook salmon, steelhead, bull trout and other species. Efforts include extensive tree and shrub planting, floodplain and river channel restoration, correction of fish passage problems, weed control, and irrigation usage.
The Oxbow Conservation Area restoration project is one of several projects supported under BPA's Columbia Basin Fish Accord agreement with the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs. It is sponsored by Ecotrust, Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board, Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund (through National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and Columbia River Intertribal Fish Commission), U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Bonneville Power Administration.
Published October 25, 2012 by Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) [Video credit: Brian Cochran]
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Middle Fork John Day River Wild Salmon Habitat Restoration
Scientists from the Bonneville Power Administration and the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs work to restore an area of the river degraded by mining. The three phase project has been paid in large part by BPA through the Columbia Basin Fish Accords. The video was produced and narrated by David Wilson. Published on November 16, 2011 by Bonneville Power Administration |
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Oxbow Conservation Area Tailings Restoration Phase 1 Completion
Background information and time lapse video of the construction of large woody debris structures on the Middle Fork John Day River Published August 11, 2011 by Brian Cochran - Music: ‘Winter Solstice’ by The Tea Party. |
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Middle Fork John Day River: Reach 3
Channel reconfiguration near Mosquito Creek, below Galena on the Middle Fork. The aim of this project was to re-meander the river from its previously artificially straightened state, thereby reconnecting it with its floodplain. Published on July 19, 2011 by The Freshwater Trust |
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Middle Fork John Day River: Timelapse 2009
Published on December 15, 2009 by The Freshwater Trust |
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Middle Fork John Day River Channel Relocation 2009
Published on Sept 22, 2009 by The Freshwater Trust |
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Where Water Is Gold
The Freshwater Trust (TFT) builds and implements the tools and methods that can accelerate results for our freshwater ecosystems. In this video, we meet ranchers who live in the Middle Fork John Day watershed, where water is gold. We learn their perspectives on the importance of water to their livelihoods, and are introduced to a few of the tactics these ranchers, in partnership with TFT, are using so that fish and ranchers alike can both thrive in this watershed. Published May 28, 2009 by The Freshwater Trust |
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