This contract is for the implementation of habitat improvement activities in the Crooked and American River watersheds. Habitat improvement activities have been identified and prioritized based on limiting factors, existing conditions, and proposed metrics. The proposed habitat improvement activities focus on physical processes and address limiting factors for ESA listed anadromous fish in the Crooked and American River watersheds.

The Crooked and American River watersheds are located in north central Idaho in the South Fork Clearwater River subbasin and are within the Nez Perce Tribe Usual and Accustom area.  Cumulatively the watersheds compose about 115,000 acres.  These watersheds are designated critical habitat under the Endangered Species Act for steelhead and bull trout and are major spawning areas for the upper South Fork Clearwater River populations for steelhead (NMFS 2019). Fish species of interest include spring/summer Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha), steelhead (O. mykiss), bull trout (Salvelinus confluentus), pacific lamprey (Lampetra tridentata) and westslope cutthroat (O. clarki lewisi).

The Nez Perce Tribe (Tribe) has been working under contract with the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) using a ridge-top to ridge-top approach to improve aquatic and terrestrial habitat conditions limiting the recovery of salmonids since 2011 (2010-086-00).  Historic activities in these watersheds, such as dredge and hydraulic mining, road crossings, logging, grazing and haying, have severely degraded instream and floodplain functions.  Land development in the American River watershed around the Elk City township is further reducing habitat quality and functions.  Past projects implemented to address limiting factors include replacing fish passage barriers at road crossings, planting native vegetation in the Elk Creek meadow and Crooked River, and restoring the hydrologic and hydraulic functions in the lower Crooked River watershed through floodplain connections and river reconstruction.  

The proposed objectives and activities for the Crooked and American River watershed were developed based on regional documents (NPCC 2005, USDA 1998) and localized monitoring data, where available. Activities were selected based on: (1) project location, i.e. how much of the watershed is impacted by the activity, (2) potential rehabilitation actions, focal fish species and their life stage effected, (3) existing condition metrics, and (4) limiting factors addressed.  Culvert surveys were conducted in 2012-2013 to prioritize culvert designs and replacements, and localized monitoring data is used to prioritize other project activities, where available.  The Tribe will continue to work collaboratively within the Nez Perce Clearwater National Forest and Bureau of Land Management partnership to develop, implement, monitor, and inform the adaptive management process.  A new partnerships with the Natural Resources Conservation Service is being developed, as well as relationships with private land owners.  

The following activities are proposed to address limiting factors in the American and Crooked River watersheds for contract year 2022:
implement Option 1 of the Crooked River Valley Rehabilitation project, which includes installing large wood jams, creating floodplain and wetlands, and planting riparian vegetation.  Treating weeds in Crooked River is an ongoing component of the overall project.   Planting will continue to occur along Elk Creek.  Restoration activities will be documented using UAV technology.