Project/Contract History:

The NPT DFRM Watershed Division and the Nez Perce National Forest have been working cooperatively in the area of watershed restoration since 1997.  In this new project and contract the NPT and NPNF will work collaboratively to complete an FY 2007 stream crossing assessment and prioritization in the Slate Creek Watershed.

FY 07 Implementation Summary:

Fish passage and habitat connectivity have been identified as one of the prime limiting factors within the Salmon River Subbasin (Salmon Subbasin Management Plan, Ecovista 2004b).  This contract will enhance habitat connectivity and fish passage by completing the following tasks:
1)Survey stream crossings in Little Slate Sub-watershed.  There are approximately 68 stream crossings in Little Slate.  Of these, all 2nd order and greater streams, and low-gradient (i.e., <10%) 1st order streams as time allows, will be surveyed.  Culverts will be inventoried using the National Inventory and Assessment Procedure For Identifying Barriers to Aquatic Organism Passage at Road-Stream Crossings (USFS 2005).  This protocol takes into account several variables associated with the culverts, including stream crossing type, culvert skew angle, diversion potential, flood prone channel width, fill slope length and height, calculated 100-year flows, drainage area, and risk of failures up and down stream.  
2)Produce a document to report findings from the Little Slate Stream Crossings survey and prioritize culverts/stream crossings for upgrade/removal in FY 2008 and 2009.