Piping Project (Lateral 58-9)
Project Description
Trout Creek provides critical spawning habitat for Summer Steelhead and resident Redband Trout. Project is focusing on conserving water from four miles of open ditch irrigation water that travels through excess porous and erosive soil, thereby causing water loss to seepage in a watershed that has overallocated and conflicting water rights for agriculture and recreational values. Water quality concerns at the end of this irrigation ditch system have also been identified in Trout Creek.
Project Map
County: Jefferson County, OR
Project Size:
- 1400.0 acres
Project Sites
- Piping project (Not publicly accessible)
Goals and Targets
Primary Motivations:
-
Public Benefit
Primary Goals:
-
Improve instream habitat reaches in Trout Creek degraded by past management actions and practices.
Progress: In progress.
Targeted Habitats:
- Wetlands and Riparian Habitats
- Montane Riparian Forests and Shrublands
Targeted Species:
- Redband Trout - Oregon Great Basin Oncorhynchus mykiss pop. 18
- Steelhead - Middle Columbia River Oncorhynchus mykiss pop. 17
Conservation Actions
| Action | Status | Start Year | End Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Improve in-stream fish habitat | In Progress | 2008 | 2008 |
| Create/improve spawning/nesting habitat | In Progress | 2008 | 2008 |
| Reduce water use/conserve water | In Progress | 2008 | 2008 |
| Reduce soil loss and compaction | In Progress | 2008 | 2008 |
| Other - Enhance stewardship (timber, ranch, farm, urban): Conserve energy | In Progress | 2008 | 2008 |
Outcomes
Is the success of this project's actions being monitored? YesMonitoring Activities
Jefferson County Soil & Water Conservation District, in a partnership with the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, Oregon Department of Agriculture, Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, Oregon Water Resources and private landowners have been monitoring the water quality and quantity in this project area for the last 3 years and plan to continue monitoring.
Lessons Learned and/or Suggestions for Similar Activities
Erosion and water loss from existing open delivery ditch system is extreme in this soil type and the water and energy savings is significant to the growing central Oregon community.
Any Additional Information About The Project
All of the planning, NEPA and Historical Preservation Cultural Survey work on this project site is complete.