This project seeks to restore A-run Snake River Steelhead to a robust, self-sustaining population within the Potlatch River through:

1. coordinated development of habitat and land management improvement practices on private agricultural and range lands,

2. coordination of interagency watershed planning efforts, continuation of watershed monitoring and

3. development of outreach programs to landowners and agricultural producers.  

The primary objectives of this contract include:

• Identify, plan, design, fund and implement best management practices to improve steelhead habitat within the Potlatch River watershed.
• Coordinate Potlatch River steelhead habitat restoration practices with the State of Idaho's TMDL process and the Clearwater Subbasin Management Planning process.
• Maintain temperature and flow monitoring programs within the Potlatch River system.
• Revise Potlatch River Watershed Management Plan, as needed.

This proposal is consistent with the NWPCC Fish and Wildlife Program’s goal to develop habitat-based programs designed to rebuild healthy, naturally producing fish and wildlife populations by protecting, mitigating, and restoring habitats. This project is consistent with the objectives and strategies of the Clearwater Subbasin Management Plan.

The 377,776-acre Potlatch River watershed is located in north-central Idaho and is the largest tributary in the lower Clearwater River.  The Potlatch River is critical to A-run Snake River steelhead.    

This project represents the transition stage from assessment and planning to implementation.  Based on recent interagency planning/assessment work undertaken for the development of the Potlatch River Watershed Management Plan, limiting factors and restoration strategies critical to steelhead spawning and rearing have been identified and prioritized.

In an effort to lower stream temperatures, increase summer flows, decrease surface and channel erosion (and associated nutrient loading), and increase riparian habitat complexities, this project will focus on erosion control and riparian restoration on private agricultural and range lands through the implementation of erosion/sediment control structures, livestock exclusion fencing, off-site water developments, native plantings of riparian areas, and protection of functional riparian areas.  Priority tributaries for restoration work, as determined by the Potlatch River Watershed Management Plan, include:  Big Bear Creek, Little Bear Creek, Pine Creek, Cedar Creek, Corral Creek, Little Boulder Creek, Leopold Creek, Potlatch River, Ruby Creek, Moose Creek, Boulder Creek, Pivash Creek, East Fork Potlatch River, Feather Creek, Purdue Creek, Cougar Creek, and Bob's Creek.


TREE PLANTING PROGRAM:

Riparian plantings will be utilized on pasture and rangelands to reduce sedimentation, reduce nutrient loading, reduce stream temperatures, increase/maintain summer flows and increase riparian habitat complexity. Containerized planting stock, both upland and wetland, is planted using hand tools (hoe-dads, shovels, planting bars) and power augers for larger container stock.  Plants and materials will be transported to site with the use of ATVs and, when roads allow, pickups.  Plants are all containerized and range in size from 4 cubic inch seedlings through 5 gallon pots.  

• Species to be planted are all native woody and herbaceous species associated with riparian areas, wetlands, and bordering uplands.  
• Materials will be purchased from local nurseries.  
• Some of the plant materials were grown out from locally-collected propagules.  
• Number of plants and species selection will depend on site conditions (current stocking density, elevation, water table height, etc.).  


SPECIES TO BE PLANTED:

Species available include:  Baltic Rush, Beaked Sedge, Brown Sedge, Common Rush, Creeping Spikerush, Daggerleaf Rush, Inflated Sedge, Lens Sedge, Nebraska Sedge, Slender Beaked Sedge, Slender Rush, Small-Fruited Bulrush, Small-Winged Sedge, Water Sedge; Basin Wildrye, Blue Wildrye, Bluebunch Wheatgrass, Idaho Fescue, Sandberg Bluegrass, Slender Hairgrass, Tufted Hairgrass; Blue Lupine, Blue Mountain Penstemon, Common Yarrow, Indian Blanketflower, Missouri Goldenrod, Prairie Smoke, Slender Cinquefoil, Sticky Purple Geranium, Tall Cinquefoil, Taper-Leaved Penstemon, Western Aster; Bebb Willow, Bittercherry, Black Cottonwood, Douglas Hawthorn, Blue Elderberry, Chokecherry, Common Snowberry, Coyote Willow, Douglas Spirea, Drummond Willow, Golden Currant, Kinnikinnick, MacKenzie Willow, Mallow Ninebark, Mountain Huckleberry, Pacific Ninebark, Quaking Aspen, Red-Osier Dogwood, Redstem Ceanothus, Scouler Willow, Serviceberry, Sitka Alder, Syringa, Thinleaf Alder, Woods Rose; Lodgepole Pine, Ponderosa Pine, Western Larch, Western White Pine (scientific names available on request).

Latah Soil and Water Conservation District staff, who worked with the previous assessment, planning and coordination stages of this project, will begin implementing riparian restoration, erosion control and related projects throughout the Potlatch River watershed.  In addition, project staff will continue developing conservation plans with private landowners and seeking additional non-BPA funds to implement best management practices designed for the improvement of steelhead spawning and rearing habitat.  Project staff will also continue coordination efforts with other watershed planning efforts throughout the region to improve fish habitat.


THE ANNUAL REPORT FOR THIS CONTRACT WILL BE ATTACHED TO THE NEXT SOW.