The Hood River Watershed Group and the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs are about to embark on phase 3 of their Neal Creek habitat restoration project to benefit threatened winter steelhead and coho salmon.  This phase will be on Hood River County forestland above the “Bridge to Nowhere.”  Alix Danielson of the Hood River Watershed Group told County Commissioners during a presentation on the project that the work will help restore ecological processes in Neal Creek, increase fish habitat, provide more resilience to flooding, and build on what was done in the first two phases.  Danielson indicated they would want a memorandum of understanding from the County.  The project is already funded through a variety of sources, so no County monies will be used.  Design work will start in July, with construction planned for the summer of 2024.