Contract History:  

The Lolo Creek Watershed Restoration project (1996-077-02) has been an on-going project of the Nez Perce Tribe Fisheries Watershed Program and BPA since 1996.  The ultimate goal of the project is to restore the physical and biological characteristics of the watershed to provide quality habitat for anadromous and resident fish species that support the historical, cultural and economic practices of the Nez Perce Tribe.  The Lolo Creek watershed contains proposed critical habitat for listed species steelhead trout, potential critical habitat for bull trout, and has moderate habitat potential for spring Chinook salmon.  Restoration in this watershed focuses on restoring riparian processes by addressing increased water temperatures, increased sedimentation, cattle grazing affects, fish passage issues, and noxious weed infestations.  The project addresses passage problems, primarily at road/stream crossings, on both private and federal land, and addresses riparian planting and riparian protection program management. Completed contract work includes culvert prioritization and assessment, installation of an off-site watering development, 20 culvert replacements, 10 culvert removals, 1600 ft. of stream bank stabilization, 100 miles of road decommissioning, 16 miles of fence installation, over 17,000 riparian trees planted, and continued monitoring and evaluation.  

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    
Summary of FY 10 and FY 11 contract work:

This project is a part of the Clearwater National Forest-Nez Perce Tribe Watershed Restoration Partnership with in kind contributions from the Clearwater National Forest.  Potlatch Corporation is also a partner on portions of this project.

A) Culvert Replacements-
Two culverts, one on Mud Creek and one on North Mud Creek, located in Sec. 19, T 34 N, R 6 E have been chosen for replacement in FY 10.  The Mud Creek culverts have been identified as a high priority for replacement and removal because they are undersized and do not pass all life stages of fish.  This work element will return fish passage to 1.9 miles of stream by removing and replacing existing culvert that is a juvenile coho, spring Chinook, and steelhead migration barrier.  The Nez Perce Tribe will subcontract with the Clearwater National Forest (CNF) who will administer the replacement contract.  The Nez Perce Tribe will assist in bid package preparation, contractor selection, technical oversight, final inspection, and the associated project implementation/effectiveness monitoring and evaluation.

Two culverts on Mud Creek, located in Sec. 19 and 29, T 34 N, R 6 E have been chosen for replacement in FY 11.   The Mud Creek culverts have been identified as a high priority for replacement and removal because they are undersized and do not pass all life stages of fish.  This work element will return fish passage to 3.9 miles of stream by removing and replacing existing culvert that is a juvenile coho, spring Chinook, and steelhead migration barrier.  The Nez Perce Tribe will subcontract with the Clearwater National Forest (CNF) who will administer the replacement contract.  The Nez Perce Tribe will assist in bid package preparation, contractor selection, technical oversight, final inspection, and the associated project implementation/effectiveness monitoring and evaluation.

B) Exotic, invasive species treatment-
During the 2007 field season, NPT completed a non-native, invasive plant inventory in Musselshell Meadows which was utilized to develop a treatment plan for chemical treatment in the highest priority areas of the 190 acre meadow area and surrounding areas.  The focus will include corridors of invasion, such as roads, trails, riparian zones, and disturbed areas.  Target species will include spotted knapweed, St. John's Wart, hawkweed, and common tansy.  

C) Riparian planting-
Re-vegetation efforts have been ongoing in the Jim Brown Creek tributary of Lolo Creek since 2002 and have been successful.  However, Jim Brown Creek and its tributaries consist of over four miles of stream length, which was practically devoid of vegetation in the 1990s.  Additional plantings are warranted to provide a healthy, functioning riparian zone that provides shade to the stream, which will reduce lethal stream temperatures.  In FY 10 and FY 11 we will plant an estimated 3,000 native riparian trees, shrubs and riparian plants within the Jim Brown Creek area.  Species to be planted include Drummond willow, Thinleaf alder, Red osier dogwood, Nebraska sedge, Beaked sedge, Baltic rush, and Coville's rush.

D) Fence maintenance-
Sixteen miles of fence have been previously constructed in the Lolo Creek watershed.  The fences consist of wooden posts and a combination of rails and four-strand barbed wire to isolate and protect riparian areas.  Due to heavy snow loads, annual maintenance is required to maintain a properly functioning fence that protects riparian and stream habitat.

E) Continued monitoring and evaluation-
Project effectiveness monitoring:  A monitoring protocol for culvert replacements will track the status of habitat within and around the culvert, as well as the stream channel's reaction to the newly installed culvert.  Monitoring for culvert replacements includes fish surveys above and below culverts, channel grade, in-culvert substrate, and profile measurements. A report on the success of previously and newly installed culverts will be completed.  Culvert replacement monitoring has been ongoing for several years.  Per the protocol, culvert replacement monitoring in Lolo Creek is scheduled for the Blonde #1, Blonde #3, Eva, Kate, Dora, Weaver #3, Jim Brown, Mox #2, Mud, and N. Mud  culverts for FY 10.  The FY 11 schedule includes Mox, Chamook, Weaver #1, Belle, Lolo, Fan, Mud #1, Mud #2, Mud #3, and N. Mud  culverts

Project effectiveness monitoring:  The Clearwater National Forest and the Nez Perce Tribe have developed a monitoring plan for decommissioned roads.  Data is used to monitor success and for suggesting improvements that could be made.  The annual monitoring plan has established numerous monitoring sites for all roads that have been obliterated, and establishes a timetable for subsequent monitoring.  Specifically in Lolo Creek, evaluation of approximately 100 miles of obliterated roads will be accomplished by collecting monitoring data at numerous different sample sites as shown in the WE location.  Data collected for Road Obliteration Monitoring and Evaluation includes the following: locate and evaluate new mass failures, record and evaluate points of surface erosion, evaluate re-vegetation coverage and succession to native plants, measure stream channel restoration and adjustment, and evaluate whether the treatment applied was appropriate for the land type.  Annual monitoring has been done at these sites since FY 1997.

Status and Trend Monitoring: A monitoring protocol for selected stream habitat reaches will track the status and trend of Lolo Creek.  Information will be collected on fish abundance and distribution, macro-invertebrates, flow, temperature, sediment composition, and habitat parameters to include channel morphology, valley width index, Wolman Pebble counts, cobble embeddedness, large woody debris, bank stability, noxious weeds and riparian condition and density.  This data will be summarized in a monitoring report, showing trends of conditions as a result of watershed restoration activities.  Six stream reaches on Jim Brown Creek, Musselshell Creek, Lolo Creek, and Yoosa Creek are scheduled for monitoring in FY 10 and in FY 11.  Monitoring for some of the parameters at these reaches began in FY 1997 and periodic monitoring has occurred annually since 2000.