Project/Contract History:

Beginning in 2000, this project evolved from the 1996 Newsome Creek Haysfork Gloryhole Project (one of the original Clearwater Early Action projects).  This comprehensive restoration effort focuses on mitigating and restoring limiting factors to fisheries production.  The primary limiting factors are excessive sedimentation into the spawning and rearing areas of streams, and the lack of available habitat and habitat connectivity.  These limiting factors result from forest management activities, specifically road building (watershed has very high road densities), and mining.  

Completed work includes the completion of the Newsome Creek Ecosystem Analysis at the Watershed Scale (EAWS), road condition surveys completed for entire watershed (approximately 220 miles), 6 miles of road decommissioning, culvert/stream crossing inventories completed for all high priority sites, Newsome Creek Channel Restoration Feasibility Study, and the nearly completed NEPA process for Newsome Creek Watershed Restoration Project.  

This project has been, and is still currently a part of the Nez Perce National Forest - Nez Perce Tribe Watershed Restoration Partnership.  Since the project’s inception, we have shared project planning, costs, and implementation responsibilities.  There are two contracts under this project.  The primary contract is with the Nez Perce Tribe.  This contract with the Nez Perce National Forest includes only the funding for specific subcontracts.

Summary of FY 07 Contract Implementation:

FY 07 contract implementation will include the replacement of the Mare Creek culvert for improved fish passage, and associated road improvements to provide access to the work site and reduce erosion and sediment input to the streams.  The Nez Perce Tribe, under their own separate contract, will assist the Nez Perce National Forest in reviewing bids, contractor selection, field supervision and the final inspection of the culvert replacement and road improvement subcontracts.  NPT also conducts the implementation/project effectiveness monitoring and evaluation for all culvert replacements and road decommissioning and improvement.