The End Creek wetlands restoration project is located 15 km north of La Grande, in Union County, Oregon. The approximately 550 acre restored wetland embodies many qualities of high value to the community. The Blue Mountains Conservancy holds a conservation easement for the property and seeks to help manage the area to maintain and promote a natural biological ecosystem, and to provide opportunities for education and research in collaboration with faculty and students of Eastern Oregon University.

The wetland is the only natural grassland/vernal pool area of any size at the north end of the Grande Ronde Valley. It forms a natural corridor between the Blue Mountains and the Grande Ronde River as it transects through extensive, uninterrupted agricultural lands. Consequently, it protects a rare island of habitat for mammals, fish, amphibians and reptiles and is an important harbor for threatened, endangered or sensitive plant and animal species. The wet meadows and ponds provide stopover sites for migratory waterfowl traveling north and south through the intermountain west, and nesting and feeding habitat for those that stay.

The End Creek restoration is a collaborative partnership between many agencies, including the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board, Grande Ronde Model Watershed, and the property owner. Funding was provided by the Wetland Reserve Program and Bonneville Power Administration.

The Oregon Trail brought settlement to the Grande Ronde Valley in the mid-1800's. By the end of the century, virtually all of the natural valley wetlands had been drained and converted to agricultural use. The End Creek property was operated as a dairy farm until the mid-1950's. Following the dariy farm operation, it became a conventional farm with wheat and other crops.

Two creeks flow through the property, End Creek and South Fork Willow Creek. Both had been ditched many decades ago. In 2005, the property was put into the federal Wetlands Reserve Program and plans were made for reclaiming the native wetlands and restoring the riparian channels. Natural, meandering creek channels were created in summer 2006. Root wads and large pieces of wood were placed along selected meanders to increase stream bank stability and instream habitat complexity. Rush and sedge plugs were installed along the creek banks. A mixture of native grass seed was broadcast sown over the area by helicopter in December 2006. In spring of 2007, willows, Black Cottonwoods and Red-osier Dogwood cuttings were planted along the new stream channels.