The crooked river watershed council- working in partnership with the ochoco irrigation district- will restore habitat and enhance ecological features on two project sites just downstream from…

The Crooked River Watershed Council received a $2,709,863.99 WaterSMART Project Grant from the Bureau of Reclamation on April 2, 2024 to restore habitat and enhance ecological features in the Crooked River watershed in Oregon. The project aims to address hydrological impacts from upstream dams by strategically placing approximately 130 large wood structures, stabilizing 3,285 linear feet of eroding streambanks, restoring 19 acres of floodplain and upland habitat, improving 0.22 acres of alcove habitat, and creating 0.42 acres of wetland. These activities are prioritized in the Lower Crooked River Action Plan and have support from multiple governmental agencies, private landowners, irrigators, and conservation groups. The WaterSMART program provides cost-shared funding for water management improvement projects that save water, increase renewable energy use, and accomplish other sustainability benefits in the Western United States.

The crooked river watershed council- working in partnership with the ochoco irrigation district- will restore habitat and enhance ecological features on two project sites just downstream from prineville- oregon. Hydrology in the crooked river watershed is impacted by upstream dams- including reclamations bowman DAM- leading to loss of floodplain continuity- degraded channel structures- and water quality impairments- impacting native spring chinook salmon and columbia river steelhead populations that inhabit the watershed. To address these impairments- the council will strategically place approximately 130 large wood structures to promote habitat complexity- stabilize eroding streambanks on 3-285 linear feet of stream channel- restore approximately 19 acres of floodplain and upland habitat- improve 0.22 acres of alcove habitat- and create 0.42 acres of wetland. These activities are prioritized in the lower crooked river action plan and have support from multiple governmental agencies- private landowners- irrigators- and conservation groups.