Contracts associated with Project 2008-604-00 (Idaho Accord) are coordinated with contracts associated with Latah SWCD's Project 2002-061-00.  The primary focus of 2002-061-00 contracts is the identification, planning, development and identification of funding for restoration practices that will be implemented through contracts associated with Project 2008-604-00 (Idaho Accord).

The comprehensive understanding of the annual restoration efforts of Latah SWCD will need to jointly consider annual contracts from both 2002-061-00 and 2008-604-00 projects. Simultaneously, these two projects seek to restore A-run Snake River Steelhead to a robust, self-sustaining population within the Potlatch River through:

1. Coordinated development of habitat and land management improvement practices on private/public agricultural, forest and range lands,
2. Coordination of interagency watershed planning efforts, continuation of watershed monitoring and
3. Development of outreach programs to landowners, agricultural producers, and the general public.  

The primary objectives of this contract associated with the Idaho Accord (2008-604-00) include:

•   In order to improve steelhead habitat within the Potlatch River watershed Latah will address known limiting factors for steelhead through proven restoration methods. Wild Snake River Steelhead are present throughout the various watersheds within the Potlatch River drainage and restoration practices have been designed to enhance conditions within the drainage to address various limiting factors to wild steelhead production and productivity.  Meadow restoration projects which emphasize process-based and holistic restoration techniques within the Big Bear Creek (including the Little Bear Creek tributary), Corral Creek and East Fork Potlatch River subwatersheds have been designed to enhance late spring and summer base flows and minimize some of the extremes in the Potlatch River hydrograph. The limiting factors identified for this population include the following: water temperature, instream flow, flow timing, sediment supply, floodplain connectivity and riparian vegetation, habitat complexity, and migration barriers. (NMFS 2017, Ch 6, pg. 46)

Priority actions to address these limiting factors for steelhead recovery as provided by the NMFS 2017 recovery plan include the following:

1. Restore hydrologic processes to retain surface flow by reducing surface runoff from altered land surfaces, disconnecting artificial drainage systems from natural drainage systems, and modifying water uses. This will contribute to reducing stream temperature problems.
2. Restore channel-forming processes by reestablishing floodplains in incised channels, removing or setting back flood control structures, and rehabilitating stream channels that have been straightened.
3. Reestablish riparian vegetation to improve LWD recruitment and create shade for streams.
4. Reduce fine sediment delivery to streams where it is increased caused by agriculture, road drainage systems (including undersized culverts), or other artificial sources.

Riparian restoration projects are designed to minimize sedimentation and maintain cooler water temperatures as well as enhance stream complexity in the future.  Installation of large woody debris is designed to increase summer and winter rearing habitat. Passage barrier removals are designed to increase access to high quality spawning areas and summer and winter rearing habitat.
    
The strategies listed above to improve steelhead habitat will also help to mitigate the future negative effects on the steelhead population from climate change (NMFS 2017, Ch. 6.1 pg. 22).  Higher water temperatures and flow volume and timing alterations are anticipated as a result of climate change and would further limit steelhead access to spawning and rearing habitat. "Tributary projects that protect or restore areas that function as thermal refugia, or ensure that steelhead have access to these areas, would help alleviate potential negative impacts associated with climate change" (NMFS 2017, Ch. 6, pg. 22).

Strategies listed in the NMFS Recovery plan (NMFS 2017, Ch. 4, pg. 135) to alleviate effects of climate change on steelhead in freshwater tributary habitats include:

•    Minimizing increasing stream temperature by retaining shade and augmenting summer flow conditions
•    Protecting and restoring wetlands, floodplains and other landscape features that store water

“Improvements in floodplain connectivity and hydraulic processes will provide the best opportunities to be proactive in the face of climate change” (NMFS 2017, Ch. 4, pg. 135).

Beechie et al. are cited in the NMFS recovery plan in Ch. 4 and their table which summarizes habitat restoration actions to ameliorate climate change provides a guide for suitable strategies to address future climate change impacts that would also benefit steelhead in the short-term. Restoring longitudinal connectivity through barrier removals, lateral connectivity through floodplain reconnections, and vertical connectivity by addressing channel incision and installing grade control (ex. Beaver dam analogs) will address temperature increases, flow changes, and will increase fish resilience in the systems (Beechie et al. 2013).  

•    Coordinate Potlatch River steelhead habitat restoration practices with the following management and restoration plans:

                   *  Clearwater Subbasin Management Plan - Northwest Power and Conservation Council
                   *  ESA Recovery Plan for Snake River Idaho Spring/Summer Chinook Salmon and Steelhead Populations - NMFS 2017
                   *  Potlatch River Subbasin Assessment and TMDLs - Idaho Department of Environmental Quality
                   *  Potlatch River Subbasin Total Maximum Daily Load Implementation Plan for Agriculture - Idaho Department of Environmental
Quality, Idaho Soil and Water Conservation Commission and Latah Soil and Water Conservation District
                   *  Potlatch River Watershed Management Plan (Revised 2019) - Latah Soil and Water Conservation District

2008-604-00 contracts are consistent with the NWPCC Fish and Wildlife Program’s goal to develop habitat-based programs designed to rebuild healthy, naturally producing fish and wildlife populations by protecting, mitigating, and restoring habitats. This project is consistent with the objectives and strategies of the Clearwater Subbasin Management Plan. In addition, this project supports the recommendations contained within NOAA's ESA Recovery Plan for Snake River Idaho Spring/Summer Chinook Salmon and Steelhead Populations.

The Lower Clearwater River Mainstem population of steelhead is genetically distinct from other wild Clearwater River steelhead groups (Nielsen et al. 2009; Ackerman et al. 2016) and comprise the only “large” independent population in the Clearwater River major population group (MPG; ICBTRT 2003). As such, the Lower Mainstem Clearwater River steelhead population must achieve viability in order for the Clearwater MPG and ultimately the Snake River DPS to become viable (NMFS 2017). The 377,776-acre Potlatch River watershed is located in north-central Idaho and is the largest tributary in the lower Clearwater River.  The Potlatch River is critical to A-run Snake River steelhead.    

In an effort to maintain lower stream temperatures, increase summer flows, decrease surface and channel erosion (and associated nutrient loading), and increase riparian habitat complexities, this project will focus restoration efforts on process-based techniques to enhance floodplain connectivity, reduce sedimentation and nutrients, and through riparian habitat restoration on private/public agricultural, forest and range lands. Restoration strategies to meet these objectives include implementation of erosion/sediment control structures, livestock exclusion fencing, off-site water developments, native plantings of riparian areas, protection/restoration of functional riparian and wetland areas by addressing channel incision, and enhanced agricultural practices to reduce erosion and nutrient runoff.  In addition, identification and modification of potential passage barriers can open suitable habitat to steelhead and improve density dependence factors currently existing within the watershed.  Eliminating fish passage impediments also enhances access to thermal refugia and/or to spawning and rearing tributaries.

High priority/Tier 1 subwatersheds for restoration work, as determined by the Potlatch River Watershed Management Plan (Revised 2019), include:  Big Bear Creek, Little Bear Creek, Corral Creek, and East Fork Potlatch River. These 4 subwatersheds were designated as high priority by the Potlatch Implementation Group and were chosen by fish biologist staff within the Idaho Department of Fish & Game and National Marine Fisheries Services based on steelhead presence, available resources for steelhead, and watershed characteristics that indicated potential for restoration to achieve measurable results.  Tier 1 and Tier 2 subwatersheds have potential for high quality large-scale restoration projects that will increase long-term watershed resiliency to the Potlatch River Basin as a whole.

Per BPA guidance, fixed institutional/implementation expenses related to Latah SWCD implementation capacity (e.g., office/shop leases, communication contracts) are assigned to contracts associated with Project 2002-061-00.  Variable implementation expenses related to individual restoration projects will be assigned to contracts associated with Project 2008-604-00.