The Lostine River

A Community Coming Together

In 2005, OWT worked with 115 ranchers and farmers to maintain instream flow in the Lostine River near Enterprise, Oregon. Under agreements with six ditch companies, OWT compensated landowners for meeting the goal of 15 cfs in the river through the town of Lostine. This allowed adult Chinook salmon to swim up to their spawning grounds high in the Wallowa Mountains unimpeded. The irrigators were presented the “2005 Award of Merit” by the Oregon Chapter of the American Fisheries Society for their efforts in enhancing salmon habitat and improving streamflow.

To ensure the 15 cfs minimum was met, a continuous stage (water level) recorder was operated by the

"I have no doubt that this section of the Lostine River would be dry without this project in place.”
- Jim Harbeck, from Nez Perce Fisheries

Oregon Water Resources Department. Manual flow measurements were also taken daily and reported to ditch heads and posted at the local Post Office. OWT staff saw the importance of the work first hand by assisting Nez Pierce Fisheries with a Spring Chinook Salmon Survey. The project directly benefited 841 adult Chinook as they returned to the Lostine River to spawn.

OWT plans a similar deal for 2007 irrigation season while working for a long term solution.