CY05 Statement of Work

Background:
Big Canyon Creek historically provided quality spawning and rearing habitat for A-run wild summer steelhead in the Clearwater River subbasin.  However, high stream temperatures, excessive sediment and nutrient loads, low summer stream flows, and little instream cover have created anadromous fish habitat constraints for the stream.  The primary sources of these nonpoint source pollutants and habitat degradations are attributed to agricultural, livestock, and forestry practices.

The Clearwater Subbasin Summary states a primary limiting factor for resident salmonid populations is the impact of land management activities on hydrology, sedimentation, habitat distribution and complexity, and water quality.  In the Big Canyon Creek watershed, low stream flows and a lack of adequate multi-layered riparian vegetation have reduced the suitability of the stream and its tributaties as spawning and rearing habitat.  The project actions focus primarily on agricultural lands and the improvement of the limiting factors within these lands.

Reasonable and Prudent Alternative (RPA)
The Northwest Power and Planning Council 2000 Fish and Wildlife Program focuses on rebuilding healthy, naturally producing fish and wildlife populations by protecting, mitigating, and restoring habitats and the biological systems within them.  This project works toward accomplishing the vision and objectives of the program by protecting and restoring ecological functions and habitats of the Big Canyon Creek watershed specifically related to:  Water quantity, water quality, passage and diversion, and watershed health.

The project directly addresses the following RPA actions:

Action #150, #152, and #153.