Our project area is anchored by the confluence of ochoco and marks creeks in the upper ochoco watershed marks creek is the largest tributary to ochoco creek and is an important source of cold water to…

Our project area is anchored by the confluence of ochoco and marks creeks in the upper ochoco watershed marks creek is the largest tributary to ochoco creek and is an important source of cold water to the upper watershed, located east of prineville these streams exhibit rich ecological potential but past management and barriers to fish migration and survival have fettered their productivity with proper fish passage and screening this lush valley can offer important spawning and rearing habitat for resident redband trout a state and federal sensitive species , while continuing to provide excellent big game habitat and agricultural production significant instream and riparian restoration was completed in 2020 to improve habitat and passage in the section above our proposed project reach our project will solidify that investment by creating a barrier free system from ochoco reservoir to marks lake, improving the connection to an ADDITIONAL15 miles of improved habitat this application seeks to secure funding to implement the designs produced through an oweb technical assistance grant after receiving the TA grant we worked closely with our project partners to identify a unified approach to addressing watershed problems in the upper watershed through that process our team evaluated the designs in order to identify which projects were best suited for restoration investment in this phase of implementation project we will address fish passage at four sites on 5 pods one in ochoco creek and three in marks creek the team agreed that screening and passage at this set of diversions is the next logical step in improving conditions for native migratory fish in the upper ochoco watershed this proposal is the result of a collaborative partnership between the lookout ranger district of the ochoco national forest, oregon department of fish and wildlife, crooked river watershed council, oregon water resources department and crook swcd