Contract History:  
The Big Canyon Creek watershed restoration project through BPA has been on-going since 1999.  This project takes a holistic ridge-top to ridge-top approach to restore and mitigate limiting factors to fisheries production.  Land ownership in the watershed is 86% private, 12% Nez Perce Tribe, 2% State of Idaho, and 1% BLM.  This project works collaboratively with the Nez Perce Soil and Water Conservation District in implementing restoration projects.  

Limiting factors for Big Canyon Creek and tributaries include sediment, temperature, instream habitat, connectivity, and summer low flows.  Completed contract work includes:  fish passage survey and assessment for the entire watershed; design and cost-estimates of 2 fish barriers; road surveys, sediment analysis and transportation plan; riparian buffer standards research and document; Natural Resource Assessment and Management Protocol (NRAMP) development; 13 tribal properties completed using the NRAMP process; 4 miles of riparian protection fence constructed; biological data collection by electrofishing on Big and Little Canyon Creeks; Habitat data collected on a watershed scale for status and trend monitoring on Big and Little Canyon Creeks.  Partners include the Nez Perce Soil and Water Conservation District and the Nez Perce Tribe Water Resources and Land Services Programs.  

This project will protect currently productive habitat from being further degraded and restore degraded habitat as a result of poor land management activities.  Within the Big Canyon Creek watershed, steelhead is currently listed as "Threatened" under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).  In addition, Big Canyon Creek flows into the main Clearwater River where "Threatened" fall Chinook are located.  A fall Chinook rearing facility is located at the mouth of Big Canyon Creek with the Clearwater River as part of the Nez Perce Tribal Hatchery.  It is believed that considerable potential exists for improving anadromous fish populations in these and other areas of Big Canyon Creek (Kucera et al. 1983).

Projects address all the bullets listed for this RPA including TMDL development.  Big Canyon Creek is currently listed for bacteria, dissolved oxygen, flow alteration, habitat alteration, nutrients, sediment and temperature.  The Nez Perce Tribe's Water Resources Department (NPTWRD) is leading the TMDL effort with EPA that is due in 2006.  All monitoring efforts (biological, physical, and chemical) associated with this project will be used in TMDL development.  All restoration efforts are working towards meeting TMDL standards.

Summary of 2006-2007 Contracted Work:
Implementation will include: completing survey, assessment and restoration project identification on 10 tribal properties using the NRAMP protocol; decommission 2 miles of road; maintain 4 miles of fence; collect biological fish data through electro-fishing on Cold Springs, Holes and Long Hollows Creeks; collect habitat data on 4 streams; and outreach and education to the general public, as well as high school and college students.  Partners include the Nez Perce Soil and Water Conservation District and the Nez Perce Tribe Water Resources and Land Services Departments.