INTRODUCTION

The Klickitat Watershed Enhancement Project (KWEP) works to restore, enhance, and protect watershed function within the Klickitat subbasin. Project work emphasizes restoration and protection in watersheds and reaches that support native salmonid stocks, particularly steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss; listed as "Threatened" within the Mid-Columbia Evolutionarily Significant Unit), spring Chinook (O. tshawytscha) salmon, and bull trout (Salvelinus confluentus; Endangered Species Act "Threatened").  Restoration activities are aimed at restoring stream processes by removing or mitigating watershed perturbances and improving habitat conditions and water quality.  Watershed and habitat improvements also benefit fall Chinook (O. tshawytscha) and coho (O. kisutch) salmon, resident rainbow trout, and cutthroat trout (O. clarki) and enhance habitat for many terrestrial and amphibian wildlife species.  Protection activities compliment restoration efforts within the subbasin by securing refugia and preventing degradation.  Since 90% of the off-reservation project area is in private ownership, maximum effectiveness is accomplished via cooperation with state, federal, tribal, and private entities. KWEP addresses goals and objectives presented in the Klickitat Subbasin Plan, Klickitat Lead Entity Strategic Plan, and the 1994 Northwest Power Planing Council's Fish and Wildlife Program.  


PROJECT GOALS
The overall goal of KWEP is to restore watershed health to aid recovery of salmonid stocks in the Klickitat subbasin.  There are three sub-goals:
•  Assess watershed and habitat conditions to prioritize sites for restoration activities.   This involves data collection, compilation, and review of existing as well as historic habitat and watershed conditions.  Identification and filling of data gaps is also a component of KWEP.
•  Protect, restore, and enhance priority watersheds and reaches to increase riparian, wetland, and stream habitat quality.  In-situ and watershed-scale restoration activities mitigate or resolve conflicting historic, present, and/or future land-uses.  Protect areas of existing high-quality habitat condition and prevent further deterioration of degraded habitats.  Restore areas of degraded stream channel and/or habitat condition.
•  Monitor watershed conditions to assess trends and effectiveness of restoration activities.  Monitoring is a critical component to evaluating project success and guiding adaptive practices.  Site-specific and basin-wide spatial scales are addressed.  KWEP augments the Klickitat Monitoring & Evaluation Project (BPA project #1995-06-335)  by assisting data collection and providing Quality Assurance /Quality Control (QA/QC) and analysis of channel morphology, streamflow, temperature, habitat, and channel substrate.


ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE
Most of the projects in which KWEP is involved involve partners and cost-sharing.  The nature of KWEP involvement is noted for each project.  A categorical exclusion was completed for KWEP planning, design, data management, and monitoring activities on January 26, 2004.   Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) determined that such actions do "not present any extraordinary circumstances that may affect the significance of the environmental effects," and, "that the proposed action may be categorically excluded from further NEPA review and documentation."  Projects involving KWEP-funded ground disturbance beyond the scope of the categorical exclusion are noted accordingly.  


RELATED PROJECTS

Improve Farming Practices - Administer MOA with Central and Eastern Klickitat County Conservation Districts (CEKCCD) for operation of a no-till drill.  The goal is to increase residual ground cover (stubble) in agricultural fields between crop cycles and reduce disturbance to the soil profile.  The net result is greater infiltration of precipitation into the soil profile and less surface runoff and soil erosion.  This project targets smaller farmers (typically 80 ac or less) for whom it is not economical to purchase such equipment.  Outcomes will reduce fine sediment contributions to streams


Habitat Assessment and Monitoring - Augment monitoring and assessment of physical watershed characteristics in the Klickitat subbasin.  Supplement data and analysis of the Klickitat M&E project by assisting with collection, QA/QC, and analysis.  Conduct effectiveness monitoring at past KWEP-related project sites.  
Assist data collection and management of channel morphology, streamflow, temperature, habitat, and channel substrate data.  KWEP actions are encompassed by a categorical exclusion completed by BPA Environmental Compliance staff in 2004.