Activities in FY13 focused on continued monitoring of the Spring Creek sites and implementation and wrapping up the Fort Hall Tributary Assessment, now completed, this assessment satisfies Bonneville Power Administration(BPA) contract deliverable under project 1992-0-1000 FortHall Bottoms Stream Restoration. This document will:

• Set a baseline understanding of the spring creek
system located in the Fort Hall Bottoms area while providing
guidance on future project planning and funding under BPA;

• Establish a foundation for an expandable/adaptable
global information system (GIS) database;

• Assist in obtaining additional funding sources when
opportunities arise; and

• Help establish a path for future research so that a greater,
more holistic view of the Fort Hall Bottom’s ecosystem can
be developed.

Restoration/ enhancement efforts in FY14 will be focused on stream sites identified in the now completed Fort Hall Bottoms Tributary Assessment. The primary objectives will be the same as in previous years, protect and enhance utilizing rock log deflectors, bank sloping and revegetation and fencing of the project site, or may differ as strategies identified in the Assessment are relatively larger scale than in years past.  As described in the Assessment, Diggie Creek sites have been identified and rise to the top for starting points for projects.  Seven projects were identified throughout Diggie Creek and will include the the following general strategies:  Excavating and laying back the streep eroding banks; filling the channel adjacent to the banks to create streamside wetlands, regain hydraulic connectivity between the channel; protecting the toes and banks with bioengineered measures; installing instream and in-bank woody habitat structures; protecting the restored creek, banks and floodplain with fencing.  In addition to restoration activities, discussions with Colden Baxter, PhD Ecologist form Idaho State University have taken place with the intent to work closely with Dr. Baxter and staff in compling and analyzing existing data and information regarding the Bottoms' hydrological functions and complete evaluation of fish populations and enhancement projects, with the overall objective of completion of a Management Plan for the Bottoms including fisheries and habitat components and standardized methodologies for monitoring and evaluation.  
Also, work will  be completed to establish a minimum flow on the lower Portnuef river which will include temperature data, which will be a continuation of addressing the dewatering issue in coordination with the BIA (Bureau of Indian Affairs) and Tribal Water Resources.