Project Overview                                                         

Buffalo Flats Floodplain Restoration

The Buffalo Flats Floodplain Restoration project is located east and adjacent to the city of Union, Oregon

and within the Catherine Creek Watershed. The Project Area includes approximately 240 acres of the

historic floodplain of Catherine Creek and Little Creek as they enter the Grande Ronde Valley. The

proposed project area is in private ownership and has been in agricultural operations over the last

century. The project is currently in the initial planning and feasibility determination phase.

Union Soil and Water Conservation District (USWCD) is the local project sponsor and is partnering with other conservation partners to provide planning and restoration actions aimed at restoring functional floodplain and stream conditions while supporting a successful ranching operation.

We recognize the complexity of the natural river system and the need to minimize potential for impacts
from actions on nearby areas, and will carefully consider the ramifications of design alternatives on the
local community. The project will be designed to not increase the risk of flood damage or flood water elevations from the existing conditions on neighboring properties and structures and will maintain the utility of existing infrastructure.

The combination of restoration actions will be designed to meet the following project goals:

  • En
  • 1.   Enhance and restore aquatic habitat conditions and increase habitat diversity and 
  •          complexity for salmonids;
  • 2.   Improve water quality conditions (temperature and sediment) for salmonids, other native fish,                and wildlife;
  • 3.   Promote conditions for restoring ecological function and improving soil health within the                       project area;
  • 4.   Improve riparian corridor and floodplain vegetative diversity and function within the project                 area;
  • 5.   Reconnect both Catherine Creek and Little Creek with their associated floodplains and
  •          expand quality floodplain habitat availability for salmonids within the project boundaries;
  • 6.   Increase streambank and floodplain storage of water and ice; increasing the
  •          potential for attenuating flows and reducing ice formation within the project reach.

For more information, contact Jim Webster, USWCD.

Conservation Partners

This project is a partnership between Union Soil and Water Conservation District (USWCD), 

Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation), Grande Ronde Model Watershed (GRMW), and the primary

landowner, Buffalo Peak Land and Livestock. Additional team members inculde Trout Unlimited (TU), and

Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR).

Funding partners include Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) and Oregon Watershed Enhancement

Board (OWEB). The partnership is also collaborating with Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT)

and Union County Roads Department to explore options for changing and improving road alignments

within the project area.

The first Buffalo Flats Focus group meeting will be held September 28th from 6:00-8:30pm via Zoom. While participation will be limited to Focus Group members and agency staff, the meeting will be open to the public to listen and observe. The agenda with the meeting link and phone number will be posted one week in advance of the meeting.

This meeting is designed to provide a project update to Focus Group members affirming the project area, project timeline and activities currently anticipated for the project, along with addressing Focus Group questions. The meeting will also outline next steps in the decision-making process and future focus group engagement opportunities.

The table below describes the expected activities for each design milestone by functional area (design,

funding, permitting, public outreach):

Project Design Milestones