Contract History:

This project is implemented as part of the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests (NPCNF)/Nez Perce Tribe (NPT) restoration partnership.  This project represents a merger of two Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) and NPT restoration projects, Slate Creek Watershed Restoration (2007-064-00)  and Lower South Fork Clearwater Restoration (2010-003-00).  The restoration partnership has been ongoing in the basin since 1996 and this project unification greatly increases the geographic area covered, and enhances the administrative and financial efficiency in order to maximize the direct benefit to fish and wildlife.

The goal of the project is to restore the physical and biological characteristics of the watershed to provide quality habitat for anadromous and resident fish species that support the historical, cultural, and economic practices of the Nez Perce Tribe.  The South Fork Clearwater River/Slate Creek watersheds contain designated critical habitat for Snake River steelhead trout, bull trout, and has moderate habitat potential for Spring Chinook salmon.  Restoration follows a ridge top to ridge top approach with implementation focused on restoring riparian processes by addressing limiting factors described in recent Expert Panel workshops such as increased water temperatures, increased sedimentation, cattle grazing effects, aquatic habitat connectivity, and exotic, invasive plants.  Historically, the cost share for this project has been contributed by the NPCNF who provides at least a 20% match including cash and in-kind contributions for environmental compliance, contract preparation, administration, and technical oversight.  In recent years, the BLM has also become an active partner and has been and will also be submitting cost share contributions during FY 21.

In FY21, we will work in partnership with the USFS to install some PALS in Castle Creek to help create habitat features and allow the stream to access its natural floodplain.  Castle Creek was identified in the FY12 passage inventories conducted by the Nez Perce Tribe as a fish bearing stream with a passage barrier blocking access to habitat.  Culvert surveys at stream/ road crossings were inventoried to take an assessment of passage barriers, one of the primary limiting factors in the South Fork Clearwater River; the surveys determine failure risk and fish passage barriers using the U.S. Forest Service's 2003 "National inventory and assessment procedure for identifying barriers to aquatic organism passage at road-stream crossings" .  Castle Creek was identified as a fish bearing stream with a barrier at the Highway 14 crossing, which is in the queue to be replaced in the near future in partnership with the USFS and ITD. Environmental DNA samples taken in 2020 have confirmed target species are present in Castle Creek, further highlighting the need for restoration in this stream.  Upstream of the culvert lies quality fish habitat with a stretch of stream that has been altered for the neighboring Forest Service workstation.  Adding simple instream structures, BDAs and PALS, will help restore floodplain connectivity, streamflow regimes, and aggrade the incised channel to increase habitat diversity and population diversity, a primary effort of Action Agencies identified in the 2020 CRS Biological Assessment.  

In FY21 work also includes fence maintenance (to protect riparian plants), and continued planning and coordination for next year's projects and out-year habitat improvements.  Pit tag arrays will be installed to monitor fish passage through a suspected partial velocity barrier site in the South Fork Clearwater River in preparation for a potential velocity barrier removal project in partnership with the USFS in out years.  NPT Watershed personnel will also continue an inventory of stream crossings throughout the Lower South Fork Clearwater River watershed in order to identify and prioritize fish passage barriers and associated risks to aquatic species.