Oregon Desert Land Trust (ODLT) proposes to restore ~4 miles of Trout Creek and ~1500 acres of associated wet meadows at Trout Creek Ranch’s Pueblo Valley headquarters. The meadows support several sensitive and/or priority species, including Alvord chub, black-necked stilt, bobolink, ferruginous hawk, greater sandhill crane, long-billed curlew, Swainson’s hawk,trumpeter swan, and willow flycatcher. Prior owners converted Trout Creek to a network of ditches and headgates to facilitate flood irrigation, hay production, and cattle grazing. ODLT proposes to restore the stream and meadows, improving connectivity and aquatic habitat in Trout Creek while maintaining the ability to use irrigation, grazing, and haying to manage vegetation for birds and other wildlife. We will initiate this effort with a conceptual restoration design process. We anticipate the conceptual design process will include gathering stakeholder input, assessing surface and groundwater conditions, surveying the site, developing a range of restoration alternatives, and selecting a conceptual restoration design.
Proposals should demonstrate experience with surface water irrigation systems, meadow and stream restoration, and stakeholder involvement.
Proposals due July 11