Custer Soil and Water Conservation District
cswcd@custertel.net
Phone: 208-879-4428
Fax: 208-879-5903

The project scope is to implement high priority action items to maintain, enhance and restore fish habitat and fish passage in the priority stream segments of the Upper Salmon Basin area within the administrative boundaries of the Custer Soil and Water Conservation District.

Implementation of measures funded under this plan will achieve the objective of the Northwest Power Planning Council's Strategy for Salmon Recovery, the National Marine Fisheries Service Salmon Recovery Plan in terms of stabilizing and improving habitat for anadromous fish and the "Four Governors Salmon Recovery Recommendations for Salmon Recovery". Migratory and habitat connectivity across the watershed's valley bottom areas is of high importance to ecologically-based restoration efforts because the tributary sub-watersheds tend to be dominated by federal lands and often provide habitat strongholds for native species of fish and wildlife.

Key habitat limitations in the watershed's bottomland areas include migration problems/ blockages and streambed sedimentation. Addressing these limitations may offer an opportunity to enhance the watershed's anadromous salmonids and will clearly benefit other native species of salmonids, other fish, and wildlife.  The primary opportunity for addressing these problems in the Pahsimeroi, East Fork and Upper Salmon watersheds is through the CSWCD and their collaborative efforts on non-federal land.

Projects identified in this SOW will enhance projects installed over the past three to five years under BPA/CSWCD contracts. The Stanley riparian fence will enhance approximately one mile of protection upstream of this fence installed in 2005/2006.  Riparian plantings in lower Stanley will further enhance approximately six miles of continues riparian fence in lower Stanley. Approximately 4.5 miles was installed under BPA contracts in 2005/2006. Riparian protection and enhancements being installed on Herd Creek will complement work completed on Herd Creek III by the Shoshone Bannock Tribes in 2006 and Herd Creek I and II installed under BPA/CSWCD contracts in 2004/2005. The area of enhancements also includes an easement that further protects Herd Creek. Installation of sprinkler irrigation and the closure of one diversion on Patterson/Big Springs Creek will not only increase flows but will remove a fish barrier from the stream.  Installation of sprinkler irrigation and the closure of one diversion on Challis Creek will will remove a fish barrier from Challis Creek as part of a larger project coordinated via the Idaho Department of Fish and Game Screen Shop.