Oregon’s U.S. Sens. Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, both Democrats, announced $4.1 million in federal funding Tuesday for water conservation projects in the Crooked River area.

The funding comes from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, passed in November 2021, through the Department of the Interior, and is being provided to the Crooked River Watershed Council and the Deschutes Land Trust, according to a press release from Merkley’s office.

The projects focus on water conservation, management and restoration activities. In a statement, Merkley described waterways and fish as the “lifeblood of the Northwest” and said he is committed to seeking federal funds for projects that conserve water and restore native fish populations.

The projects include $1.4 million for the Crooked River Watershed Council, which will use the funds for a habitat restoration project in the Lower Crooked River floodplain, downstream from the city of Prineville.

The work is expected to support habitat for native spring chinook salmon and Columbia River steelhead populations.

Chris Gannon, director of the Crooked River Watershed Council, said the funds will specifically be used to restore river habitat on two properties between the city of Prineville and the Lone Pine Bridge. Work is expected to start next year, he said.

The Deschutes Land Trust will receive $3 million for habitat and stream restoration in the Ochoco Preserve, located about a mile from Prineville.

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Fish, wildlife to benefit from federal funding at Ochoco Preserve near Prineville

A half mile of McKay Creek on the preserve was restored in earlier phases of the project, and the new funds will allow the trust to restore a 1-mile portion of the Crooked River and a half-mile section of Ochoco Creek, said Rika Ayotte, executive director for Deschutes Land Trust. Walking trails are also planned for the area.

“We hope to begin these next phases of restoration in 2024,” said Ayotte. “The completed restoration will create 185 acres of habitat for fish and wildlife and will be a key piece of efforts to recover salmon and steelhead populations in the Crooked River Basin.”

The federal resources for the two projects are part of $51 million overall for 30 new environmental water-resource projects in 11 Western states.