The Lower Clearwater and Potlatch Watersheds Habitat Improvement 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 - 2019 Amendment (Potlatch Plan). The Potlatch Plan has identified and prioritized limiting factors and restoration strategies critical to steelhead spawning and rearing within each subwatershed. Tier 1 priority tributaries for restoration work include: East Fork Potlatch River, Big Bear Creek (including Little Bear Creek), and Corral Creek. 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.

This contract covers 2025-2026 actions by the Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG) for the Lower Clearwater and Potlatch Watersheds Habitat Improvement project and Trout Unlimited (TU) for the Lower Mainstem Clearwater Steelhead Population Group Restoration project.

IDFG actions in this contract include West Fork Little Bear Creek Sharrock-Becker Habitat Improvement Project implementation; Spring Valley Reservoir Flow Augmentation Development design and engineering; Big Meadow Creek Project conceptual design; State Highway 8 Big Meadow Creek Culvert Replacement design; developing a video series for education and outreach;  general habitat repair and maintenance; and the identification and selection of new work for future implementation.  

TU actions in this contract include West Branch of the South Fork of Clear Creek Barrier Removal Project design and engineering; Clear Creek Habitat Restoration Project design and engineering; and Orofino Creek Genetic Assessment.