This contract covers work to be completed by the Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG) and Lemhi Soil and Water Conservation District (Lemhi SWCD).  IDFG will complete the Snyder Side Channel project, which is part of efforts started by IDFG through the last Lemhi River Restoration contract, number 58410.  Lemhi SWCD projects include portions of Upper Hawley Water Rights Point-of-Use Transfer,  Carmen Creek SCC3 Flow Enhancement Project, and the Lemhi Side Channel at Mabey Lane.  

The Snyder Side Channel Project was started in contract 58410.  The work elements in this contract were originally listed as work elements H - K in contract 58410.  The project will involve construction of a side channel on the Lemhi River at the site of an irrigation ditch failure, which has resulted in water flowing through a meadow.  A fence will be constructed alongside the new channel and the disturbed areas will be reclaimed.  It is being completed to create complex side channel rearing habitat for Chinook salmon and steelhead.  The project is funded jointly through BPA Accord funds as well as through the Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund (PCSRF).

Lemhi SWCD will utilize BPA funds for the Upper Hawley Water Rights Point-of-Use Transfer.  The objective of this project is to convert water conveyance from 11,200 feet (2.1 miles) of open ditch to a pipeline to increase the amount of instream flow for fish by approximately 5.3 cfs or 3,841acre-feet/year. To accomplish this objective, a point-of-use transfer will be completed to realign the pivot configuration to conform to the existing 521.7 acre water right without expansion of irrigation. The pipeline will be laid inside of the existing irrigation ditch.  Additional components of this project will be funded by PCSRF and EQIP (NRCS).

The Carmen Creek SCC3 Flow Enhancement Project will be funded by BPA and the Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund. The objective of this project is to increase the flows below the Salmon Carmen Creek 3 diversion by transferring the point of diversion and providing on farm irrigation efficiencies. This project will improve stream flow by 2.0 cfs (1,448.90 acre-feet/year), improve riparian function and improve fish migration. To accomplish this, two landowners will exchange the point of diversion from Carmen Creek and pump water from an alternate source. An open ditch irrigation system will be converted to a pivot sprinkler and K-Line system to improve water conveyance and distribution efficiency.

The Lemhi Side Channel at Mabey Lane project is a cost share project funded partly through BPA Accord funds and partly through the Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund.  The project's main objective is to construct a Lemhi River side channel. A new side channel will be developed to allow access to the river's natural floodplain on approximately 15 acres and a back-water side channel will be developed for off-channel habitat from the Lemhi River. The new side channel will be approximately 800 feet in length, with meanders, instream pools, and large woody debris features. A jack fence will be built to protect existing vegetation and new plantings. These two objectives are proposed to happen concurrently.