This project is intended to implement habitat restoration activities in the Potlatch River Basin as identified in The Accord. 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 wild Snake River steelhead. This project seeks to restore wild Snake River Steelhead to a robust, self-sustaining population within the Potlatch River through coordinated implementation of best management practices on private timber, agricultural and range lands, coordination of interagency watershed planning efforts, and continuation of watershed monitoring and evaluation. 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.

This project is intended to implement the Potlatch River Watershed Management Plan. The Plan has identified and prioritized limiting factors and restoration strategies critical to steelhead spawning and rearing within each subwatershed. Priority tributaries for restoration work include: East and West Fork Potlatch River, Big Bear, Little Bear, Pine, Cedar, and Corral creeks. The mainstem Potlatch River is also a priority restoration area. Projects will address limiting factors including removing migration barriers, increasing instream habitat complexity, reducing stream temperature and sediment load, increasing base flows, and reducing high spring run conditions. Implementation efforts will include but are not limited to repair, removal or replacement of old culverts and bridges, stream and floodplain reconnection, reservoir flow augmentation, installation of large woody debris and other instream habitat structures, implementation of erosion/sediment control structures, riparian planting, livestock exclusion fencing, off-site water development, and protection of riparian and floodplain areas through easements or direct purchase.

It is intended that project staff will continue to seek 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 primary objectives of this contract include:

- Identify, plan, design, fund and implement high priority habitat restoration actions to improve steelhead habitat within the Potlatch River watershed cooperatively with Pacific Coast Salmon Recovery Funds.
- Develop designs and cost estimates for the Stowers steelhead habitat LWD restoration project on the lower East Fork of the Potlatch River;
- Work with BPA to evaluate alternatives for fish passage at Big Bear Falls;
- Complete restoration efforts at the Dammerman Meadow site on the East Fork Potlatch River;
- Develop new projects.