Located along the western urban growth boundary of prineville, oregon, ochoco preserve (preserve) was acquired by the deschutes land trust in 2017

The preserve was acquired with a primary goal of reestablishing ecological processes and maximizing fish and wildlife habitats, while providing public access and educational opportunities. Attainment of this goal will be achieved by implementing three phases of restoration across the preserve. This proposal focuses on the second phase of restoration (the first phase was completed in 2022). Among other ecological benefits, phase two will address factors that limit salmon and steelhead production in ochoco creek and the crooked river within the preserve. The 2010 odfw middle columbia steelheadrecovery plan lists the following as limiting factors for the crooked river steelhead population: degraded channel structure, complexity, floodplain connectivity, and riparian condition, high water temperature, low flows, altered hydrology and sediment routing, and lack of fish passage, (p. 9-61). Many of these limiting factors exist on both of the aforementioned waterways on the preserve and are reducing the potential for salmonid production. In particular, both watercourses are channelized with minimal floodplain. Limiting factors will be addressed in many ways, such as creating about 40 acres of new floodplain. Within that new floodplain around a mile of new ochoco creek baseflow channel and about 0.6 miles of new crooked river baseflow channel will be constructed. Over a mile of side channels will be constructed and connected to the baseflow channels. Within the new floodplain, about 5 acres of wetland will be constructed. Using excavated earthen material, over 50 acres of uplands will be crafted. All disturbed areas will be planted with native, zone appropriate vegetation. Project partners that continue to be involved include, but are not limited to, odfw, PGE, confederated tribes of warm springs and the city of prineville. Funding has been received by the private sector, ngos, tribes, and state and federal agencies.