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Cover Sheet Applicant Information

Lead Applicant Organization or Entity: South Fork John Day Watershed Council (SFJDWC)/Cascade Pacific RC&D Contact Person Name: Amy Stiner Address: P.O. Box 522 City, State, Zip: Mt. Vernon, OR, 97865 Email: astiner@outlook.com Telephone: 541-792-0435 Website Address: www.southforkjohnday.com

Project Information

Project Title: Riparian Re-Vegetation of the Upper South Fork John Day River Project Location State: Oregon County: Grant Nearest Town: Izee Congressional District of Project: OR2 Watershed/Stream/Lake: Upper South Fork of the John Day River WNTI native trout and char species/sub-species Benefitted by Project: Redband Trout Total Project Budget: $251,167.00 Total Amount Requested: $19,954 Total Matching Funds or In-Kind Support Secured: $254,280.00 Project Map Coordinates (decimal degrees) Lat: 44.0648 Long: -119.4136 Project Start Date: October 25th, 2016 Project Completion Date: October, 2018

Is there a monitoring plan following Partnership guidelines? Yes No If multiyear project, is there a breakdown of tasks, accomplishments, and budget by year in distinct phases? Yes No Land Ownership (public or private; if public, specify managing agency): Private Is there a letter of support from the State or Federal fish and wildlife agency or Tribal government? If project is located on private land, please also attach a letter of support from landowner

In which USFWS Region is the project located? (1, 2, 6, 7, 8) _1___ Region 1: Idaho, Oregon, Washington Region 2: New Mexico, Arizona Region 6: Montana, Colorado, Utah, Wyoming Region 7: Alaska Region 8: California, Nevada Is your project currently listed in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife FONS system? Yes / No Please indicate FONS Project Number (if applicable): Note: Many previously submitted, but unfunded projects have been placed in the Fishery Operational Needs System (FONS). Please check with your local U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Office if you are unsure about the question. Sponsoring Professional (federal, state, or tribal agency resource manager)

Name: Amy Charette Title: Watershed Restoration Coordinator

Application for WNTI Funding Application Deadline: 5 pm Mountain time October 7, 2016

Application not to exceed 10 pages total (including the 3 page cover sheet)

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Affiliation: Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon Signature (required): Mailing Address: John Day Basin Office, 320 W. Main Street, John Day, OR 97845 Phone: 541-575-1868 Email: amy.charette@ctwsbnr.org

WNTI Funds Requested: $__19,954____

Total Matching Contributions (cash and in-kind): $__234,326___

Match ratio (WNTI:Partner) _39_ : _500

Total Project Cost: $__254280__

Partner Contribution Detail (List and briefly describe the project partners and their financial contributions.)

Partner Cash In-Kind Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB), funding for plant stock,

and beaver dam analogue materials (Grant #: 217-6021)

152028

Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon; plant

stock, beaver dam installation, nursery propagation

33800

Partners for Fish and Wildlife; plant stock, beaver dam installation,

propagation & protection

20000

Kendra Smith, consultant, and revegetation expert, in-kind match reflects

project planning and design

12540

Cascade Pacific RC&D, fiscal administration 15958

Budget Totals 172028 62298

Note: NFHP funds granted to project applicants are processed through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Regional Offices. These are federal funds, administered on WNTI’s behalf through a federal agency. Grants are paid on a reimbursable basis. A FWS project agreement will be completed with successful applicants through interactions with FWS regional and/or local staff. Project Partners (list all project partners and contact information)

Partner Organization: South Fork John Day Watershed Council Contact Name: Amy Stiner Position: Executive Director Email: astiner@outlook.com Telephone: 5417920435 Partner Organization: Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon Contact Name: Amy Charette Position: Watershed Restoration Coordinator Email: amy.charette@ctwsbnr.org Telephone: (541) 575-1868

Partner Organization: Partners for Fish and Wildlife Contact Name: Dirk Renner Position: Regional representative Email: dirk_renner@fws.gov Telephone: (541) 312-6427

Partner Organization: Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board Contact Name: Sue Greer Position: Regional Representative Email: Sue.Greer@state.or.us Telephone: 541-384-2410

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Partner Organization: Kendra Smith Contact Name: Kendra Smith Position: Consultant/riparian specialist Email: ksconsultingecologist@gmail.com Telephone: (503) 719-3009 Partner Organization: St. Clair Ranch Contact Name: Phil St. Clair Position: landowner Email: rizdollie@gmail.com Telephone: (541) 477-3828

Project Components (select all that apply) Riparian or In-Stream Habitat Restoration Watershed Connectivity Barrier Removal or Construction Monitoring Watershed or Population Assessment Education/outreach In-Stream Flow Acquisition Planning Watershed Planning

Anticipated Outcomes (fill in values applicable to project) _4__ # Stream Miles Restored or Enhanced ___ # Watersheds or Rivers Assessed ___ # Stream Miles Reconnected or Reopened _3__ # Stream Miles Assessed _15__ # Acres of Lake/Wetlands Restored/Enhanced ___ # Populations Assessed ___ # Barriers Removed or Constructed ___ Other: (i.e. number of individuals reached by an educational program, number of presentations given, number of materials produced, etc.)

Project Narrative Please use 12 pt. font, single line spacing, and standard margins. This portion of your application should not exceed 7 pages. I. Project Summary - a one paragraph description of what tasks will be accomplished.

The South Fork John Day Watershed Council, with the consultation of Kendra Smith, is implementing a rapid

riparian revegetation project (R3), planting up to 2500 stems/acre, within 15 acres, across 2 landowners, and

along 4 miles of the South Fork John Day River. We will also be installing 4 sets of 3 complexes, or 12 total

beaver dam analogue structures. Funding has been secured through the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board

(OWEB), as well as our partners; The Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs, and Partners for Fish and

Wildlife, to hire contracted reveg crews to perform the planting, and installation of Beaver Dam Analogues.

We are requesting Western Native Trout Inititiative’s support in contracting a crew to collect the needed willow

cuttings, as well as building off of the baseline bioassessment’s that were performed by Michael Cole, in 2001,

2004, and 2006, both of which included habitat assessments of the St. Clair’s section of river.

II. Problem the Project Addresses - A description of why the project is important to the resource and which

WNTI and NFHP objectives will be met. What are the major factors limiting the healthy function of the

watershed/habitat? Describe how your proposed project addresses the causes of degradation rather than the

symptoms, and how your project addresses species recovery needs or other species conservation needs.

Describe how the project is important to the long-term persistence of the species.

Located in central Oregon, the South Fork of the John Day River flows northward from its headwaters in the

Ochoco and Aldrich Mountains and enters the mainstem of the John Day River at Dayville, OR. In its entirety,

the South Fork subbasin drains approximately 607 square miles. The length of the mainstem of the South Fork,

from its headwaters to it's mouth, is approximately 55 miles. Upstream fish migration is prevented at river mile

28 by the Izee Falls, a 45 foot tall cascading waterfall. The watershed above Izee Falls is referred to as the

Upper South Fork of the John Day River. The South Fork John Day is a designated Wild and Scenic Corridor.

Aquatic, riparian and other wetland systems occupy a small portion of the landscape but provide a

disproportionate amount of important habitat for unique plant species and terrestrial animals (Crowe and

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Clausnitzer 1997). Riparian areas provide a number of important functions in the maintenance of aquatic

ecosystems. Riparian vegetation stabilizes streambanks and dissipates stream water velocities during higher

flows, thereby minimizing bank erosion. Riparian vegetation also provides stream shading, reducing the amount

of solar radiation reaching the stream and, therefore, preventing accelerated warming of stream water. Fish

populations benefit from both instream and overhead cover provided by live and dead riparian vegetation.

Inputs of leaves, twigs, needles, and other vegetation from the riparian zone often provide the primary food

source for stream insects that, in turn, serve as the food base for trout, amphibians, and other aquatic predators

(Cole, et al 2003).

The structure and components of riparian areas influence the rate, amount, and timing of water, nutrients,

organic debris, and inorganic materials that enter streams and rivers. The energy of floodwaters and their

ultimate volume, timing and erosive power is influenced by the soils, vegetation and geomorphology of fluvial

surfaces within valley bottoms, as well as biological factors including the presence of beaver.

Decades of intensive use of riparian areas and other wetlands in central and Eastern Oregon have caused

substantial degradation of their ecological structure, composition and function. Habitat degradation has led to

losses of fish and wildlife populations within the watershed (Grant SWCD 1991). According to the Western

Native Trout Status Report, distribution of Redband trout is estimated to include only 54.7% of its historic

range, with only 5.3% being occupied by strong populations. The entire length of the South Fork of the John

Day River is listed as water-quality limited for temperature (i.e., it exceeds the 64° F standard) on the Oregon

Department of Environmental Quality’s (DEQ) 303(d) list. Rehabilitation, restoration and monitoring of

wetland ecosystems is currently a high priority for many land management agencies and landowners (Crowe et

al, 2004).

According to the Stream Restoration Program for the Upper South Fork of the John Day River (USBOR, 1992),

measures focused on improvement of riparian areas would have the greatest positive effect on water

temperature, sediment, and fish habitat and are needed on both public and private lands. This plan also lists

objectives; create structures for water retention, improve vegetation management and manipulation, improve

riparian vegetation, create check dams and other structural means to reduce or eliminate sediment delivery from

actively eroding or incised channel reaches, construct impoundments, enhance streambank and riparian

vegetation by planting beneficial native deciduous and coniferous species in riparian zones. The- instream water

micro-storage objectives can be achieved by supporting the presence of beaver in the system.

Loss of native riparian vegetation and dominance of invasive species can have negative consequences for river

and floodplain dynamics, trophic interactions, water quality, and riparian systems’ ability to buffer some of the

impacts of climate change. In response, restoration and enhancement efforts have increased in scope and scale

in recent years. Rapid Riparian Revegetation (R3), promotes rapid cover of woody plants in a composition

designed to mimic reference site conditions.

III. Project Objectives/Supporting Documentation - What specifically will be accomplished? How do these

objectives support the goals of the WNTI Strategic Plan, existing species recovery plans and conservation

strategies, watershed restoration plans, etc.? If possible, cite relevant plans and their specific objectives and

goals that the project addresses.

The objective of Redband trout conservation and restoration is to ensure the long-term persistence of self-

sustaining populations across the species' native range. To meet this objective, we will restore and maintain

suitable habitat. By using our R3 planting approach, we hope to achieve canopy cover as quickly as possible

through the use of woody plants, planted at densities derived from reference sites. Initial planting densities

prescribed in this approach are typically in the range of 5,400 to 6,400 stems per hectare (approx. 2,200 to 2,600

per acre), with inter-planting in the second year at 1,300 to 1,600 stems per hectare (approx. 530 to 650 per

acre). Most sites are established over six to seven years at a total cost of $11,000 to $20,000 per hectare

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(approx. $4,500 to $8,100 per acre). This approach evolved in and is tailored to Oregon’s Willamette Basin, but

principles and practices are applicable to other regions using adaptive management.

We are also going to actively suppress invasive non-native vegetation that impedes native plant growth and

regeneration. Using this approach, we will put the site on a positive trajectory toward achieving multiple

ecological outcomes. These include improved aquatic and terrestrial riparian habitat and wildlife forage by

focusing on vegetation structure and species diversity improvement in water quality through increased shade

and buffering of sediment, pollutants and nutrients from entering the water column, and improvement in

nutrient cycling.

Redband trout populations are widely distributed in all/most major stream drainages within the South Fork John

Day River. The proposed project will increase the water quality, and improve streamside vegetation and shrubs,

minimizing soil compaction and reducing past impacts to streambank erosion. Well established plantings will

eventually provide significant amounts of native leafy and woody debris for macroinvertebrates to feed, which

in turn, provide a food source for resident rainbow/Redband trout.

Having already established baseline monitoring collected in 2001, 2004, and 2006, the re-assessment of the

macroinvertebrate community populations in conjunction with the R3 approach, provide an effectiveness scale

for establishment of riparian vegetation. Macroinvertebrate community assessment has gained wide acceptance

as a reliable tool for measuring the condition of surface waters in Oregon, and should be a useful tool in

monitoring anticipated improvements in the health of aquatic communities in the upper South Fork subbasin.

Bioassessment methods, like benthic macroinvertebrate community assessment, provide a reliable measure of

the overall ability of a water body to support aquatic life because they integrate the effects of multiple stressors,

including excess nutrients, increased temperature, excessive sediment loading, and others. For this study, we

will be expanding upon baseline data collected in 2001, 2004, and 2006, which will include a comprehensive

assessment of instream physical habitat, riparian conditions, water quality, and macroinvertebrate community.

Upper Mainstem and South Fork John Day River Agricultural Water Quality Management Area Plan has Water

temperature as the most widespread concern in the basin. The causes of stream heating can include excess solar

radiation (pg. 45)

The Mid-C Recovery Plan lists the major limiting factors for the South Fork Watershed as the following:

Reduced water quantity and/or modified hydrograph; impaired physical habitat quality; impaired fish passage;

elevated water temperatures.

The Upper South Fork John Day Water Optimization Study; Goals: Flatten the hydrographic curve, reduce

sediment, moderate water temperatures, increase useable water yield, increase the quantity and quality of

resident and anadromous fish habitat (pg. 7-8).

The Upper South Fork John Day River Watershed Assessment: Across the watershed, riparian recruitment

potential was adequate in only 30% of the total riparian area assessed, indicating that most of the watershed

riparian zones do not support sufficient quantities of trees to provide adequate supplies of woody materials to

stream channels. More than 89% of the riparian zone distance surveyed had stream shading of less than 40%.

Nowhere in the basin did estimated riparian shade levels exceed 70%.

IV. Project Methodology - Describe what you are planning to do. Multi-year projects must be broken into

distinct phases with measurable tasks and accomplishments broken down by year, what year(s) the funding you

seek will cover, and how other years of the project will be funded. How will the project be completed, and who

is responsible for actually doing the work? Attach photos and map of the project area if possible.

We will use a mix of bare root, rooted cuttings, and a small amount of d-pot potted stock. We will use

“Riparian and Wetland Vegetation of Central and Eastern Oregon” (Crow, 2004) as guidance on the plant

communities, and base our planting on the plant community associations common for the site conditions (likely

Booth-Geyer- Lemmon Willow Associations, and Coyote Willow dry alluvial and Scoulers associations for

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drier segments). We also have the soil data for the area, provided by the Natural Resource Conservation

Service. The final plant species and quantities will be developed in cooperation with tribal botanists, and local

nurseries willing to grow the necessary stock.

For the beaver dam analogs, we propose drilling several untreated fence posts (varies based on channel width),

approximately a foot apart, across the channel and set the height at the low terrace/bankfull elevation. They

would be woven with some willow to encourage the sound of spilling water. Additional willow cutting stock

would be left near the structures to encourage beaver to build. Up to four complexes of three beaver analogs

post sets will be placed in locations most likely to support and encourage beaver to construct dams. We will

call upon NOAA and other experts in beaver work to peer review our location selection and offer any additional

advice (Kendra Smith has implemented these types of projects in other locations in the State). Sites will be

selected that are within a beavers’ typical intrinsic potential to occupy (channel <8m wide bankfull width, >30m

valley width, and <4% slope), and where food sources are abundant enough to support their persistence.

The Bioassessment will be performed by the same individual who established the 2001-2006 baseline surveys.

Data gathered will produce a comprehensive assessment of stream physical habitat, riparian zone vegetative

conditions, water quality, and macroinvertebrate community characteristics in the upper South Fork subbasin.

These new results will be compared to those from the 2001-2006 baseline surveys to quantify any significant

changes occurring in the decade since monitoring last occurred and to establish a new baseline immediately

prior to revegetation work.

V. Project Monitoring/Evaluation of Success - How will the success of the project be assessed, and who is

responsible for long-term maintenance and monitoring? Has an evaluation/monitoring plan been completed?

The benefit(s) should be quantifiable; that is, you can measure or count the amount of habitat and/or species

benefited, or the result of your project.

We have established a comprehensive set of baseline data collected in 2001, 2004, and 2006, that can be used to

monitor and evaluate these and future restoration efforts occurring within the subbasin. Our aim is to monitor

these conditions at each of these study sites annually to build a long-term data set that will allow us to measure

the success of these restoration projects and best management practices.

VI. Partnerships for this Project - Briefly describe the project partners’ involvement in planning,

implementation, and evaluation of this project. Projects that have secured matching funds or in-kind support

from partners and/or involve diverse stakeholders are highly valued and encouraged.

Project Element Name of Person & Agency/Organization

Project management Amy Stiner, South Fork John Day Watershed Council

Kendra Smith, Bonneville Environmental Foundation

Seed/cutting Collection, installation of

protective fencing

Wendy Neal, Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs

Container Plant production

Alexandra Reinwald, Confederated Tribes of the Warm

Springs

Planting site preparation Amy Stiner, South Fork John Day Watershed Council

Kendra Smith, Bonneville Environmental Foundation

Planting Amy Stiner, South Fork John Day Watershed Council

Kendra Smith, Bonneville Environmental Foundation

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Plant establishment activities (e.g., post-

planting, ongoing weed control, animal control,

inspections, watering or irrigation, etc.)

Amy Stiner, South Fork John Day Watershed Council

Kendra Smith, Bonneville Environmental Foundation

VII. Project Timeline - Please provide an estimated timeline for the project, including major milestones and

achievements, including plans and responsible person to prepare and submit a final report with high quality

digital photographs.

Project Elements Start Date End Date Description

Materials Acquisition June 2016 Oct 2017 We plan to begin gathering seed and

hardwood cuttings the summer of 2016, so

we will be ready to plant in Oct of 2017

Bid Solicitation from nurseries Oct 2016 Dec 2016 we will immediately solicit bids from

nurseries to produce needed plants for both

2017 and 2018 planting efforts

Bid Solicitation from Reveg

crews

Aug 2017 Sept 2017 Once the necessary plants are secured, we

will plan to plant in October of 2017,

therefore we will secure bids from re-veg

crews prior to that date.

Contracting Oct 2016 May 2018 drafting and signing contracts with

landowners, researchers, cooperators,

nurseries, and re-veg crews

Implementation May 2017 May 2018 We will begin implementation once plants

have been grown and prepared, and once

funds have been secured. Beaver analogs

would be installed in spring of 2017

Project Inspection & Photo

Monitoring

May 2017 Nov 2018 Inspection will occur as the plants are being

planted to ensure proper preparation and

placement

Post Project Implementation

Review

Nov 2018 2021 We will perform post project review annually

for 4 years

Project Maintenance 2017 2022 Ring spray if needed around plants to

decrease grass competition over first two

years spring, spot spray invasives for up to 4

years if needed. Mulch plants for water

retention

VIII. Supplemental Information

Status of Project Design and Environmental Compliance - Identify the stage of project design and when

implementation is expected to occur. Identify what environmental compliance documents are needed and the

status of completion for these documents.

The design criteria for the vegetation is to align the planting strategy with the soils and hydrologic conditions on

site, and planting at a density similar to naturally occurring stands, while accounting for the likely shifts in

hydrology due to climate change (and to a lesser degree, beaver). We are proposing a diversified palette of

plants to help buffer the dynamics at the site. Much of the guidance on the plant associations comes from

Riparian and Wetland Vegetation of Central and Eastern Oregon, Crowe et al. 2004. Vegetation species to be

establish will be based on soil type and plant associations of the Upper South Fork John Day River. The

proposed elk fencing will be placed to see if there are substantial differences in growth with/without the fencing

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over the course of several years. The findings will help increase knowledge and improve approaches to

vegetation establishment in eastern Oregon.

For the beaver analogs, the project proposes to use similar design criteria to that of the Bridge Creek project

(NOAA, 2012). The team and its peer reviewers will select locations based on geomorphic, hydrologic and

vegetative factors to increase the likelihood of use. The four clusters of three dam analogs will be placed apart

from one another, as typically observed in natural beaver colonies. We will utilize guidance developed in the

US Fish and Wildlife Service’s Beaver Restoration Guidebook (June, 2015), to protect fish passage and ensure

the structures achieve their design objectives.

The monitoring locations will be based on the original Bioassessment of the Upper South Fork of the John Day

River Watershed, completed in 2001, 2004, and 2006. Michael Cole has conducted all of these surveys, and has

agreed to assist in re-surveying the sites. We will revisit the 3 river reaches that were established on the St.

Clair Ranch. Data collected will include; water chemistry, physical habitat, and macroinvertebrate communities

Species Present - List all species (including non-WNTI species) that will directly benefit or be affected by your

project, and how. Include special status designations if applicable—ESA status, species of special concern, etc.

Resident Redband Trout, Red-side shiners, dace, sculpin, suckers, Mule Deer, Rocky Mountain Elk, numerous

species of migratory birds

Outreach/Education - Describe any outreach or education efforts associated with this project, including public

workshops, tours, signs, newsletters, scientific journal articles, scientific conference presentations, educational

forums, etc.

This project will be a pilot program for Eastern Oregon to increase the extent of riparian vegetation planting

methods, so outreach will be important. We will perform tours after planting has occurred, and after beaver

dam analogues are placed. This will need to include power point presentations, and prints and distribution of

project materials.

IX. Budget

Category WNTI Partner Match Total

a. Personnel N/A 10920 10920

b. Travel 540 5584 6124

c. Equipment*

d. Supplies 65255 65255

e. Contractual 17,600 118170 135770

f. Construction

g. Other 1814 34397 36211

TOTAL 19,954 234326 254280

*Equipment is any individual item over $5,000. Even if an item is tangible, nonexpendable, and having a useful

life of more than one year, items costing less than $5,000 should be placed under the Supplies category.

X. Budget Narrative – for supplies and contractual, provide some detail. Explain budget categories and

amounts listed above as needed. If a multiyear project, please provide a budget breakdown by year (e.g., Phase

1 – 2016, Phase 2 – 2017).

Michael Cole has given an estimate of $5,000 for him to conduct each Bioassessment, Kendra Smith will assist

at $2000 per assessment, we plan to conduct 2 assessments, prior to treatment and post-treatment, totaling

$14,000. We are requesting support to hire a crew of individuals to assist in collecting willow cuttings. This

will require a crew of 10 people for 3 days, costing approximately $15/hour/person, for 3 - 8 hour days, totaling

$3,600 for labor. For travel, the project site is located 500 miles roundtrip from the riparian specialist assisting

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in design and implementation, so we are requesting funding for travel to the site 2 times for the specialist. The

funding requested in the Other category would be needed to administer the contract and conduct payments.

XI. Project Staff - List names and relevant qualifications of project staff.

Kendra Smith will assist in designing and preparing the revegetation and beaver encouragement strategy.

Kendra is an ecologist with 23 years of restoration expertise throughout Oregon. She has a MS in Ecosystems

Management and has spent a career developing and managing restoration programs that address improvements

to watershed process and function. She has specific expertise in revegetation strategies and has implemented

large-scale programs in the Tualatin River Basin and broader Willamette, as well as worked with partners on

these issues in the Deschutes, Rogue River Basin, and soon Umpqua. Kendra is the Director of the Model

Watershed Program in Oregon for Bonneville Environmental Foundation.

Amy Stiner: Coordinator for the Upper South Fork of the John Day River Watershed Council, has a B.S. from

Eastern Oregon University, and completed field trainings with the NRCS, CTWS, Grant SWCD, and the

SFJDWC. In addition, she has worked for the Malheur National Forest Service Silviculture program for 4

years, performing site inspections, and quality control for Forest treatments. Amy will be conducting Pre, Mid,

and Post-Inspection for the duration of this project, the SFJDWC will also act as her supervision.

Wendy Neal, from the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs (CTWS), has a B.S. in Environmental

Anthropology, with a minor in Geography. She has monitored and collaborated with landowners and OWEB on

several projects in the John Day Basin.

XII. Optional Supporting Materials - Includes maps, photographs, letters of support, etc. Project proposals

must be supported by the state and/or federal fish and wildlife management/natural resource agencies, or Tribal

governments within project-area jurisdictions. Letters of support and landowner consent letters do not count

toward the 10 page application limit. In addition to the required letter of support from the state fish and wildlife

agency, and any additional letters of support from federal or Tribal fish and wildlife agencies, the project

application cover sheet must include a signature and contact information for a ‘sponsoring professional’ from

the relevant management agency.

XIII. Signature of Applicant - An original signature page must be received with the application.

I certify that the above information is true and accurate,

Signature:

Print Name: __Amy Stiner_______________

Title: __ Coordinator/Executive Director_

Organization: South Fork John Day Watershed Council _

Date: _10/07/2016_

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South Fork John Day running through the St. Clair Property. Example of channel incision that would benefit from Beaver Dam Analogues. Also details the lack of woody riparian vegetation, and Redband Trout Habitat.

Landowner Consent Template I, __Phil St. Clair__as the owner of the property St. Clair Ranch, Izee Oregon, agree to participate in the project being proposed and/or consent to the Bioassessment of the Upper South Fork John Day River of the property being considered for funding by the Western Native Trout Initiative. I agree to allow members of the South Fork John Day Watershed Council, NFHP Program representatives, and associated partners or their designated staff to inspect the property at any mutually agreeable time for the purposes of this proposal. I understand I shall be notified in advance of all inspection visits. I also understand that the project being proposed may not happen if the application does not meet the needs or qualifications of the National Fish Habitat Plan and is subject to availability of funds and ranking priority. Dated: _9/28/2016______________ By:

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9/28/2016 Phil St Clair St Clair Ranch 45408 Izee-Paulina Lane Canyon City, OR 97820 October 13, 2014 Subject: Western Native Trout Initiative, Bioassessment of the Upper South Fork John Day River for Rapid Riparian Revegetation. To whom it may concern: Restoration projects and Best Management Practices (BMPs) were initiated in the late 1980s on the St. Clair Ranch. We have installed check dams and juniper riprap, providing grade stabilization through the entire reach of river on our property. We have changed grazing practices to promote recovery of riparian vegetation. Since our initial efforts, restoration and BMP activities have included additional check dam construction, corridor fencing, streambank stabilization, tree planting and screening irrigation diversions. Most of this work has been supported by OWEB, Partners for Fish and Wildlife (USFWS), and ODFW. We have planted 100-150 bare-root poplars and conifers along the South Fork’s riparian zone. Each year we have planted approximately 400 cuttings of native trees (willow sp., cottonwood, and red-osier dogwood) in our fenced-off riparian zone.

In 2000-2001 we encouraged the Bioassessment of the Upper South Fork John Day River, and hoped it would help determine the effectiveness of our management practices. The St. Clair Ranch supports the resurveying of our river reaches. As part of the St. Clair Ranch comprehensive ranch and conservation program, we have always promoted efforts, such as riparian enhancements, invasive species control, and wildlife habitat improvements. We have allowed and continue to encourage data collection and monitoring for aquatic invertebrates, fish, and water quality/quantity.

We look forward to working with Kendra Smith, Michael Cole, and the South Fork John Day Watershed Council, on the revegetation efforts in the Upper South Fork, and hope we can be a model for the rest of Eastern Oregon.

Sincerely,

Phil St. Clair, St. Clair Ranch

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