PORTLAND – Oregon Water Trust, a program of Oregon Trout, recently announced an agreement with Campbell Crossing to permanently restore summer flows to the lower two miles of Rudio Creek in the John Day Basin.

The flow restoration of this cool water tributary of the North Fork John Day River is expected to increase the quantity and quality of spawning and rearing habitat for native steelhead and spring Chinook.

Currently, Campbell Crossing draws water to irrigate 321 acres during the summer, which dries up the lower two miles of the creek, eliminating spawning habitat for steelhead and a cold water refuge for juvenile spring Chinook migrating up the North Fork.

Oregon Water Trust worked with Campbell Crossing to start drawing the water from below the mouth of the creek, allowing the water to first flow through the creek before being used to irrigate the land. Restoring the flow and enhancing riparian vegetation should lead to improved water quality.

The landowner will see increased irrigation efficiency and ultimately, a higher agricultural yield, “demonstrating that conservation and agricultural production need not be mutually exclusive,” said David Pilz, project manager for Oregon Water Trust.

Further, the Campbell Crossing will complete infrastructure upgrades to its irrigation system to minimize water lost to leakage and evaporation and reduce its overall demand for water withdrawals. Additionally, Campbell Crossing is working with the Monument Soil and Water Conservation District to protect riparian habitat by building fencing to keep cattle out of the creek and planting vegetation to stabilize banks and increase shade.

Funding for the incentive-based, non-regulatory project was secured through the work of the Columbia Basin Watershed Transaction Program, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in support of the National Fish Habitat Action Plan, North American Salmon Stronghold Partnership, Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board and the Monument Soil and Water Conservation District.

“This collaboration represents a model for freshwater restoration in the West,” said Pilz. “Rather than focus on one narrow restoration goal, we are tackling all of Rudio Creek’s problems at once by working with many partners.”

Vicki Finn, Pacific Region Restoration and Recovery Team Leader with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service echoed those sentiments: “We are excited to contribute to this innovative project in a Salmon Stronghold, and we look forward to supporting additional collaborative projects with creative approaches to aquatic species conservation.”