Project abstractthe sprague river is a major subwatershed and tributary of upper klamath lake

This Cooperative Agreement award from the U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service, under the Partners for Fish and Wildlife program (CFDA 15.631), provides $770,811 to Trout Unlimited, Inc. to design and implement a restoration plan for approximately 5 miles of the Sprague River in Beatty, Oregon. The key project activities include installing riparian fencing, providing off-stream stock water wells, and adding large woody structures to the river. These restoration efforts are intended to improve habitat for endangered Lost River and Shortnose Suckers, as well as Redband Trout and Chinook Salmon, by increasing stream complexity, reducing erosion and sedimentation, and enhancing water quality and temperature conditions. The project, running from October 2024 to September 2027, will involve close collaboration with the Klamath Tribes to incorporate their cultural perspectives and ensure the project's success.

Historically the riparian and riverine habitats provided cooler stream temperatures a greater complexity of woody riparian vegetation and overbank flow connection to floodplain every few years. These historic conditions were critical in maintaining habitat for a variety of fish and wildlife species the beatty GAP portion of the sprague river is highly impacted by past land management practices including conversion to agricultural uses stream channelization and straightening by the army corps and levee construction for flood attenuation. Restoration of the historic conditions is essential but will require detailed engineering analysis major changes in land management restoration of riparian communities levee removal and additions of large wood to the stream. IT is also a highly significant cultural area for the klamath tribes and their input for restoration plans is essential for success of the project. The funds requested in FY 2024 will go towards phase i primarily to design the restoration plan for about 5.0 river miles covering 5 private properties in the beatty GAP area. A large portion of the funds will be used for installing riparian fencing in conjunction w stock water wells funded through nonpartners for fish and wildife sources and securing large wood for instream work. This project will directly improve and create habitat for lost river and shortnose suckers two endangered species this reach is also designated critical habitat for these species redband trout and chinook salmon should they return to the area after klamath river DAM removals. Benefits also include the reduction of erosion and capture of excess sediment inputs thereby improving water quality decreases in water temperature providing thermal refugia and substrate sorting creating additional spawning areas by the creation of riffle pool woody structure complexes and habitat improvements for the proposed threatened northwestern pond turtle. Current conditions such as extreme incision and lack of instream structure contribute to poor water quality and provide little to no fish habitat. This section of the sprague resembles more of a canal ditch than a natural river. Cattle are allowed to access the river for drinking water and the riparian is not protected. In order to protect riparian areas IT is critical to provide offstream drinking water for cattle and stockwater wells have proven to be the most effective reliable and costefficient way to provide water. These will be installed with separate funds nonpartners for fish and wildlife funds in conjunction with riparian fencing to protect the banks and river.