Sunrise mountain ranch (SMR) covers a large area (approx. 14,000 acres) in the sprague river watershed and includes portions of the sprague river, SF sprague river, NF sprague river, meryl creek,…

The Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service Region 8 awarded a $133,000 Cooperative Agreement to Trout Unlimited, Inc. under the Partners for Fish and Wildlife federal grant program (CFDA 15.631). The award will support restoration of 2.7 river miles of Meryl Creek located on Sunrise Mountain Ranch in Beatty, Oregon from June 1, 2023 through May 31, 2028. Key products and services include reversing channel incision, reconnecting approximately 100 acres of historic floodplain habitat, improving 250 acres of degraded riparian areas, increasing instream habitat complexity through placement of 40-80 large woody debris structures, and removing two fish passage barriers to improve access for native redband trout. The restoration activities aim to enhance habitat for native fish species while also improving downstream water quality flowing into critical habitat for endangered Lost River and shortnose suckers.

Sunrise mountain ranch (SMR) covers a large area (approx. 14,000 acres) in the sprague river watershed and includes portions of the sprague river, SF sprague river, NF sprague river, meryl creek, and an intermittent portion of long creek. Meryl creek is a small tributary of the NF sprague river, drains approximately 57 square miles, and is important habitat for redband trout (oncorhynchus mykiss newberryi). The lower 3.3 miles of meryl creek flow through an alluvial valley that historically contained important wet meadow habitats. Most of lower meryl creek (2.7 miles) are on sunrise mountain ranch. The current channel is incised, disconnected from the floodplain habitat across the valley, and is almost entirely devoid of instream habitat for native fish. The riparian is severely degraded due to historic cattle overgrazing, and there are two major barriers to fish passage on meryl creek. Although there is no critical habitat or occupied habitat for endangered lost river and shortnose (LRSN) suckers on the ranch, poor water quality originating on the ranch flows downstream and may impact these species. Unfortunately, this reach of meryl creek exports a large amount of sediment to the NF sprague river which contributes to poor water quality. The U.S. Fish and wildlife service, trout unlimited, and the private landowner are partnering to address these conditions in lower meryl creek.restoration objectives restore enhance 2.7 river miles of meryl creek by reversing channel incision reactivate approximately 100 acres of historic channel floodplain connection improve the condition of approximately 250 acres of riparian habitat increase instream habitat complexity by installing approximately 40 80 large woody debris structures improve access by removing existing fish passage barriers