Joseph Creek originates in the North Eastern corner of Oregon on the south flank of Blue Mountains and North Wallowa Mountains and flows north into Washington State and drains into the lower Grande Ronde River. The creek was supports a population of Snake River ESU steelhead and spring Chinook with estimated potential population exceeding 500 adults for each species. As a result the creek was identified as a Major Spawning Aggregation for steelhead. Joseph Creek flows a relatively short distance through Washington State and only the lowest reach of the river flows through the state. As a result the reach was given a priority protection designation to maintain flow, water quality and to prevent imminent threats in the lower river.
In the Snake River Salmon Recovery Plan, Joseph Creek is designated a MSA with priority protection reach. The following limiting factors are identified:

Elevated water temperature
High fine sediments
Reduced riparian habitat

The Snake River Salmon Recovery Plan supports the following action in the Priority Protection Reach:

Riparian Buffers (Acquisition/easement, which could include riparian or floodplain restoration)
Land Use BMPs
Ordinance/Regulations
Fish Screens
Fish Barrier Removal

The following are assumptions made in the Snake River Salmon Recovery Plan for the conservation actions listed above.

Riparian buffers, like CREP protect the riparian zone and channel migration zone from disturbance for at least 15 years,
Land Acquisition, Land Use Ordinances and Conservation Easements adjacent to rivers protects the riparian zone and channel migration zone indefinitely and these reaches are low priority for funding further protection activities
Fish Screens protect fish from irrigation withdrawals
Removing fish barriers promote fish movement within a basin