Ecosystems Fish
Malheur National Forest Fish Resources
The Malheur National Forest contains a highly diversified fishery resource ranging from coldwater-dependent cutthroat and bull trouts to cool-water smallmouth bass. In addition, the John Day River drainage supports anadromous runs of Columbia River spring Chinook salmon and summer steelhead trout. Fisheries habitat ranges from cold, high-elevation headwater streams and lakes to extreme low-flow or intermittent streams in which summer daily maximum water temperatures exceed 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
The Forest encompasses parts of the following major drainages
North Fork John Day River
Except for the Middle Fork of this river, only headwater areas of a few tributaries to the North Fork reach the Malheur National Forest. These Forest streams do contribute somewhat to the resident trout sport fishery, but they are all above the distribution limits of anadromous fish.
Middle Fork John Day River
The Middle Fork is a tributary to the North Fork John Day River and supports anadromous runs of spring Chinook salmon and summer steelhead trout as well as resident rainbow/redband trout populations. Bull trout are also present in some of the colder tributaries. Over half the Middle Fork is on private land. From Big Creek upstream, most of the tributaries are on Forest lands. Thus, about 88 percent of the steelhead production in the Middle Fork is on the Forest. It is estimated that about 70 percent of the Chinook spawning occurs on the Forest, but again the tributaries add to the relative importance of Forest streams by providing summer rearing for juvenile Chinook, which move into these tributaries when water temperatures in the Middle Fork become too warm.
Main Stem John Day River
The main stem supports anadromous runs of spring Chinook salmon and summer steelhead trout as well as resident rainbow/redband trout, cutthroat trout, bull trout, and brook trout. Only a small part of the main stem is on the Forest, but a major portion of the headwater tributaries are within the Forest boundary. Thus, only about 15 percent of the Chinook production in the main stem occurs on the Forest, but about 67 percent of the steelhead production is on the Forest.
South Fork John Day River
The South Fork supports a run of summer steelhead up to river mile 28, where an impassable barrier exists. A major portion of the west-flowing tributaries to the South Fork are within the Forest boundary, which includes about 38 miles of steelhead streams. The South Fork Falls are located on BLM land, downstream from the Forest. If completed, this will provide steelhead access to about 85 miles of stream, 26 which are on the Forest. The South Fork and its tributaries also support a rainbow/redband trout sport fishery.
Malheur River (Main Stem and North Fork)
The Malheur River is a tributary of the Snake River and formerly supported an anadromous fishery. This fishery was eliminated in the first half of this century by high dam construction on the Snake River. The river system currently supports a resident trout fishery (bull trout, rainbow/redband trout, and brook trout).
Silvies River
The Silvies River flows into the Harney Basin, which has no outlet and acts as a drying basin. The drainage supports a resident trout fishery and the only smallmouth bass fishery on the Forest.