Project/Contract History:

This project is a component of the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests-Nez Perce Tribe Watershed Restoration Partnership.  This project represents a combination of two ongoing BPA and NPT restoration projects, Project 1996-077-03, Project 2002-074-00, and an extension of the project area to include the entire Lochsa Watershed rather than just the upper subwatersheds.  This project unification has significantly increased administrative and financial efficiency in order to maximize the direct benefit to fish and wildlife.

Restoration follows a ridge top to ridge top approach with implementation focused on decreasing sediment inputs into area streams, increasing aquatic habitat connectivity, decreasing resource impacts from roads, and eradicating exotic, invasive plants. The cost share for this project has been contributed by the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests who provides an approximate 18% match including cash and in-kind contributions. Project planning and implementation responsibilities are also shared with the Forest.

To date, the partnership has re-opened access to 88.95 miles of habitat, removed 521 miles of road through decommissioning or abandonment, improved 35.4 miles of road, planted 791 acres of vegetation, and treated over 2,997 acres of invasive, non-native plants. Major actions proposed for the 2014-18 funding cycle include over 18 miles of habitat re-opened through barrier removal/replacement, 119 miles of road decommissioning, 35 miles of road improvement or relocation, 250 acres of planting, 5,000 acres of weed treatment, approximately 1,500 feet of channel reconstruction, and addition of large woody material to approximately 0.5 miles of stream.

FY 2017 Contract Implementation:

FY 17 implementation includes the removal of up to11 miles of roads (to reduce sediment inputs to streams), up to 3 culvert replacements (to improve hydrologic capacity and reduce potential sediment delivery, as well as  provide habitat connectivity), planting up to1,200 native riparian shrubs, installing large wood into Wawa’aalamnime Creek to provide habitat complexity, and continued planning and coordination for future habitat improvement projects as identified in the 2016 ATLAS strategic prioritization framework.

NPT Watershed personnel will also conduct invasive plant treatment, continued invasive inventory, and continue an inventory of roads and culverts throughout the Lochsa watershed in order to identify fish passage barriers and road associated risks to aquatic species.  

Matching Costs Summary 2017: In 2017 the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests will provide approximately 18% of project costs for road decommissioning/improvement and culvert replacement, which includes project planning, contract administration, and implementation as described in the existing MOU with BPA.    

The Lochsa project continues to work with an environmental non-profit organization to pursue the purchase of, and return to federal ownership of, nearly 40,000 acres of privately held timberlands in the upper Lochsa. This land acquisition was identified as the highest priority protection and restoration action within the three highest priority Subwatersheds during the development of the BPA facilitated Lochsa ATLAS strategic prioritization framework.