Projects
Buffalo Flats Floodplain Restoration
The USWCD is collaborating with landowners of Buffalo Peak Land & Livestock and other conservation partners to design and implement floodplain restoration on a private property located east and adjacent to the City of Union, Oregon. The project encompasses 268 acres of floodplain and pasture and includes reaches of Catherine Creek and Little Creek. Detailed project information and updates are provided on the Buffalo Flats page.
Catherine Creek River Mile 38 Fish Habitat Restoration
The USWCD has been working for many years with landowners to implement conservation and restoration projects along the first 3 miles of Catherine Creek downstream of Union, Oregon. The CC-38 Habitat Restoration Project (named for its location at River Mile 38) is located in this reach on a private farm. The landowners have an interest in maintaining a balance between healthy riparian conditions while continuing a successful farming and ranching operation. Specifically, on this property, several areas of streambank are unstable and creating erosion that is a concern to the landowner and impacts fish habitat conditions. Throughout 2020 the District worked with the landowner and an engineering firm to produce construction-ready designs.
The project design for CC-38 is intended to benefit Endanger Species Act (ESA)-listed fish species and improve natural stream function. The CC-38 reach of Catherine Creek has documented some of the highest densities of overwintering Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha). The Grande Ronde Subbasin Plan (NPCC 2005) lists several factors limiting the success of those ESA-listed fish; the most important being a lack of habitat diversity with a low amount of holding pools and large wood in the channel. In addition, high water temperatures and sedimentation also pose problems. Considering these limitations, project elements were developed and include:
- Installation of large wood structures
- Reduction of streambank erosion and sedimentation
- Maintenance and enhancement of existing fish habitat conditions
- Additional seeding and planting of riparian plant species
The CC-38 Restoration Project was constructed during the summer of 2022 and will continue to be monitored for effectiveness.
The Red Mill Reach, Catherine Creek River Mile 38.5 Restoration Project
This project area is located directly west and downstream of Union, Oregon and includes a reach of Catherine Creek that flows through several privately-owned agricultural properties. The USWCD has teamed with the Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) to investigate opportunities in this area to improve water quality and quantity and restore aquatic habitat conditions. The project is organized into three stages that include 1) irrigation upgrades, 2) stream channel and floodplain restoration, and 3) riparian protection and conservation.
Free Willow, Willow Creek Fish Passage Improvement –
Elmer Dam Fish Passage Improvement
A multi‑year effort to restore fish passage, improve water efficiency, and modernize agricultural infrastructure at Elmer Dam is nearing completion, marking a significant leap forward for both environmental restoration and local farming operations in the Catherine Creek basin.
Located on Catherine Creek at river mile 13.1 near Cove, Oregon, Elmer Dam impedes the migration of native salmon and steelhead, species essential to the cultural, ecological, and economic values of Northeast Oregon. The existing fishway associated with the dam has required constant manual adjustments and became a bottleneck in a key migration corridor for ESA‑listed Snake River Chinook salmon and summer steelhead.
A Collaborative Conservation Effort Years in the Making
The current project revitalizing the dam emerged from extensive collaboration among the Union Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD), Trout Unlimited, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Grande Ronde Model Watershed, and local landowners, particularly the Hassinger family, whose farm depends on the dam’s irrigation function.
Reflecting a dual mission for fisheries recovery and agricultural support, the project's goals are:
- Restore fish passage for native species at all water levels
- Improve agricultural efficiency and reduce hydrologic disruption
- Enhance aquatic habitat quality
- Improve the hydrologic regime and climate resilience within the watershed
These objectives are tied directly to priorities outlined in regional restoration strategies, including the Grande Ronde and Catherine Creek Restoration Atlas led by the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA).
After detailed engineering analysis, agencies determined that the dam’s existing fishway no longer met state or federal standards. As a solution, a new vertical‑slot fishway designed for unobstructed passage for all native species and life stages. The improved fishway, along with a new overshot gate and structural upgrades, is expected to reconnect over 50 miles of upstream spawning and rearing habitat.
Key construction features include:
- New vertical slot fishway meeting passage standards with multiple elevations entrances
- Dam improvements to increase hydraulic control during spring high flows
- Pump and intake improvements moving pumps to wet wells, removing two intakes and screening the remaining intake
- On‑farm upgrades, including center‑pivot irrigation conversion and connecting off-channel reservoirs for more efficient water use
These changes not only improve fish survival but also modernize irrigation, reduce labor demands and operation risks, and conserve water.
Ecological Importance: Opening Habitat, Reducing Mortality
Catherine Creek is one of the region’s most important spawning and rearing areas for ESA‑listed salmonids. Experts note the dam has historically caused:
- Migration delays and difficulty for late‑returning adult Chinook
- Backwater conditions dangerous to out‑migrating smolts
- Increased predation from non‑native fish and birds
- Complete passage blockage beginning mid‑summer in most years
The new passage system is expected to eliminate these barriers, restoring more natural hydrologic function through a critical habitat corridor.
Temporary Fish Passage & Construction Timeline
During construction, the Union SWCD worked with Cascade Civil Corp to implement a Temporary Fish Passage Plan to minimize disruptions. This approach included mitigation measures, alternative routing, and seasonal timing to ensure species protection throughout the build.
Work began in 2024 and is scheduled to conclude by November 28, 2026, with ongoing monitoring and evaluation continuing into 2027.
Funding Support
The improvements received major backing from the BPA (funding the fishway replacement and dam modifications), NOAA Fisheries through the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB), and Oregon Water Resources Department. In addition, the NRCS is providing matching funds to modernize on‑farm systems. These partnerships demonstrate a growing emphasis on multi‑benefit restoration projects that serve both ecosystems and working lands.
A Model for Future Projects
Federal and state agencies have highlighted the project as an example of how collaborative conservation can support agriculture while healing ecological systems. By rebuilding the dam to better serve both farmers and fish, stakeholders believe they have strengthened the region’s agricultural future while safeguarding essential aquatic species.
As the project enters its final stages, restoration partners and the landowners see Elmer Dam as a symbol of what is possible when science, engineering, and community priorities align.
