La Grande Ranger District proposes riparian enclosure fence at Upper Fly Creek

By on Monday, December 23rd, 2024 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News

LA GRANDE – The La Grande Ranger District Aquatics Program, part of the Wallowa Whitman National Forest, is proposing the construction of a 1-mile exclosure fence along a portion of upper Fly Creek for 2025. This will be preceding a roughly 50 acre planting project in the area. The full release from the U.S. Forest Service is as follows:

(Release from the Wallowa Whitman National Forest)

Dear aquatic program partners. The La Grande Ranger District plans to install a riparian exclosure fence to control ungulate access to upper Fly  Creek. This project tiers to the Regional Aquatic Restoration Project Decision Notice and supporting documents found  at https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=53001.

LOCATION

Restoration activities along Fly Creek are within the McCarty Sheep Allotment of the LaGrande Ranger District, Wallowa-Whitman National Forest. The project is located within the Lower Fly Creek Subwatershed (170601040108) at Township 5 South, Range 35 East, Sections 17 & 20. 

PROJECT DESCRIPTION 

Wild ungulate browsing has impacted the recovery of native plants and shrubs adjacent to recent aquatic habitat improvements in Fly Creek.  

To improve native and planted riparian shrub establishment, the Forest Service proposes to build an ungulate exclosure fence along approximately 1 mile of upper Fly Creek. The fence will be approximately 8 feet high and constructed with T-posts, field fence, and H braces at stream crossings.  

Following fence construction, the District plans to plant 20,000 seedlings and 60,000 cuttings by hand. 

TIMING 

Fence Construction 

May – November 2025.  

Planting 

Spring and Fall 2025 – 2027 

MITIGATIONS 

All relevant mitigations found in the Region 6 Aquatic Restoration EA for riparian fencing and planting will be followed.  

MAINTENANCE AND MONITORING PLAN 

Plant/Seedling Survival 

Native plantings and seeded areas would be evaluated for survival on a yearly basis for three years after project completion through photo points and on-site evaluation. If plant/seed survival is poor, then subsequent planting and/or seeding would occur (depending on funding). This monitoring will be completed by the USFS 

Noxious weeds 

Forest Service personnel will monitor the project area for noxious weeds annually for three years after project implementation.  

Maintenance 

Forest Service personnel will complete maintenance annually. 

HOW TO CONNECT 

The La Grande interdisciplinary team values your feedback. If you have questions, concerns, or would like to know more about the project, please reach out to our agency contact within 20 days of receiving this project notification. 

AGENCY CONTACT

Elkhorn Media Group