The Nez Perce Tribe, in cooperation with the Umatilla National Forest, replaced two fish passage barrier culverts on Pataha Creek with open bottom arch culverts in the fall of 2014. In addition to replacing the culverts, nine log weirs (four located downstream of the upper culvert and five located downstream of the lower culvert) were also removed to improve aquatic passage and sediment transport. Pataha Creek is a tributary to the Tucannon River and is part of the Tucannon steelhead population. The culverts are located on the end of a 47 mile journey to the headwaters. Prior to project completion, the two barrier culverts inhibited juvenile fish passage because of their slope and velocity of flow. The structures impeded the accessibility to approximately 3.92 miles of quality rearing habitat, limiting the return of juvenile ESA-listed steelhead from downstream over-wintering habitat to upstream summer headwater habitats. Downstream habitats have been deemed thermal barriers in summer conditions, exceeding salmonid temperature tolerances. These barrier culverts were identified in the Walla Walla Community College (WWCC) SE WA Barrier Assessment 07-1881 (G. Anthorn, 2009) and CTUIR Barrier Assessment of Pataha Creek (E. Hoverson, 2010). WWCC provided stream cross section measurements and input on restoration options and techniques. The project engineer work was conducted by the USFS (Paul Gerber). Harney County Gypsum of Hines, OR, was awarded the Lower Pataha Creek Fish Passage Improvement Project, while Hanging Rock Excavation & Construction of La Grande, OR was awarded the Upper Pataha Creek project. Note that the original plan was to replace the barrier culverts with bridges. But installation of precast bridges at these sites would have been a logistical challenge because a crane is needed to set/place the pieces. Open bottom arch culverts were used instead.