Crane Creek flows from a series of springs, across open pasture, and into the Sevenmile and Fourmile Creek systems. Most of Crane Creek was redirected from its original channel into an irrigation canal which served to deliver water for flood irrigation and drain the wet meadows around the creek to improve the cattle pasture.

Two landowners, KBRT, US Fish & Wildlife Service, US Forest Service and the Natural Resource Conservation Service formed a partnership to restore Crane Creek. Over the summer of 2007, two miles of historic channel were cleaned out and water returned to the historic channel. Two headgates that blocked fish passage were replaced with structures that allow both irrigation and fish movement.

Water was redirected into the historic channel in October 2007. Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife recorded spawning activity by brown and redband trout over the winter. In areas where these fish had not been found before.

A population of Oregon spotted frogs was also found at the site. While these frogs are not protected by the Endangered Species Act, there is a strong focus on protecting their habitat.The US Geological Survey asked to track how the frogs faired after the restoration work. Before construction 89 frogs were captured, then stored in plastic tanks during construction and then released near Crane Crreek when the works was completed.

The success of the project has led to plans to improve habitat in the remaining one mile of stream. With support from USFWS, NRCS, OWEB, USFS and EPA this work is scheduled to be completed in 2008.