Photo: Land Trust.

Spawning Nests Found at Rimrock Ranch

Apr 28, 2025 by Sarah Mowry
Steelhead redds are a good sign that the restoration of Whychus Creek is providing healthy habitat.

Questions? Contact our team!

Do you have questions, kudos, or other feedback? Let us know: info@deschuteslandtrust.org

The Land Trust is pleased to share that we’ve spotted steelhead redds, or spawning nests, in the recently restored portion of Whychus Creek at Rimrock Ranch!

Redds are the nest where fish lay eggs, and their presence is a resounding endorsement of work that we undertook to improve habitat at Rimrock Ranch the last few years. Staff and project partners were visiting the restoration area in April when they discovered the redds. In all, they found seven redds and at least four of those were steelhead redds scattered throughout the portion of the creek that were restored in 2021 and 2023. Prior to the restoration work in Whychus Creek at Rimrock Ranch, the creek was less suitable for redds with fast moving water and larger gravel and cobble sizes. Fish need slower water and the right size gravel to lay eggs in a spot that keeps the eggs the right temperature and provides aerated water.

Land Trust restoration specialist Jason Grant noted, “we’ve been waiting for a good run of adult steelhead to see if spawning would occur in the restored areas of Whychus Creek. We were confident that the post-project spawning habitat was there, we just needed the fish to return and give us affirmation. Now that steelhead have spawned, the acres of rearing habitat that were created as part of the restoration will be occupied by juvenile steelhead. Knowing that natural production of steelhead is occurring and all life stages of steelhead are using habitat that were created from restoration is just awesome! That has been a goal of these collaborative restoration and reintroduction efforts since the beginning.”

The Rimrock Ranch redds, combined with this year’s record returns for steelhead above the Pelton Round Butte Hydroelectric Project, are good news regarding the efforts to reintroduce steelhead! We look forward to seeing more success stories as we continue to help improve habitat for their return.

 

Learn more: