The Lake Roosevelt Rainbow Trout Habitat/Passage Improvement Project is a resident fish substitution project intended to mitigate for anadromous fish losses caused by the construction and operations of Chief Joseph and Grand Coulee Dams.  The goal is to restore healthy and harvestable salmonid populations through rehabilitation of stream habitat and restoration of ecological function in the riparian corridors of streams within the boundaries of the Colville Confederated Tribes Reservation and Traditional Territories.

The Project proposes to enhance natural production and survival of resident fish for recreation and Tribal subsistence with the implementation of several management actions designed to address habitat related limiting factors and restore the natural hydrologic function of the systems.  In 2011, the project adopted an updated habitat improvement and protection strategy that focused on process-based restoration of natural stream function and a clearly-defined, hierarchical prioritization and implementation strategy to guide improvement actions.

The results of EDT modelling and restoration plan development identified 25 priority reaches to focus our efforts in and concluded that the most common restoration measures suggested for these priority reaches were: additions of large wood to the channel, riparian restoration, livestock exclusion, floodplain reconnections, remeandering straightened channels, wetland restoration, barrier removal, and protection.

The habitat restoration actions will improve the quality and quantity of stream habitat for native fishes.  These actions are designed to increase the abundance of native fish, primarily Redband Trout, to support ecosystem health and harvest opportunities.

We will begin working toward implementation of actions identified in the plan, as well as complete and maintain restoration identified in previous years.  Habitat restoration actions implemented in 2021 will include the status, inventory, and maintenance of approximately 16.19 miles of existing riparian fence, remove debris, maintenance of riparian plantings, new riparian planting, maintain BDA/PALS, maintain off-site water development, update the Upper Columbia and Sanpoil Habitat Restoration Plan’s habitat protection and restoration prioritization scheme with quantitative biological objectives and adaptive management plan, and pre-project planning and design work for habitat restoration activities to be implemented in subsequent funding cycles.

Fence maintenance:  Beginning in 1993, fencing projects have been implemented of the Colville Confederated Tribes reservation to protect and restore riparian habitat along several tributaries to the Sanpoil River.  Successful protection and restoration of riparian habitat by fencing will only be successful if the fencing is regularly monitored and maintained.  The project staff will monitor and maintain/repair approximately 16.19 miles of existing riparian fencing at the following locations (miles):  Lost Creek-1 (1.02), Lost Creek-2 (0.41), Lost Creek-3 (1.10), Loony Creek (0.55), Moses Creek-1 (0.80), Moses Creek-2 (1.36), Moses Spring (0.41), N. Nanamkin Creek-1 (1.55), N. Nanamkin Creek-2 (0.56), S. Nanamkin Creek (0.53), Capoose Creek-1 (1.50), Capoose Creek-2 (2.18), Twentythreemile Creek-1 (2.50), Twentythreemile Creek-2 (1.50), and Bridge Creek (0.22).  They will systematically inspect the entire length of fence; repairing it as they encounter damage.  Fence units will also be monitored for trespassing livestock.

Remove debris:  The Loony Creek riparian protection fence unit contains pre-existing interior fencing which will be removed along with miscellaneous refuse in the riparian and upland area of Loony Creek.

Planting maintenance:  Existing fencing units were also evaluated for response of the riparian community in 2017 and 2018.  Fencing units containing areas which have not responded to livestock exclusion were planted with riparian vegetation and maintained in previous years.  In 2021, CCT staff will continue to maintain the Lost Creek site (5.0 acres).  Maintenance of the plantings at this site will include controlling non-native vegetation (mowing, mulching, and spraying - herbicide use is limited to last resort after alternative methods have been exhausted), additional plantings, and watering plantings during dry months.

New riparian planting:  The Moses Creek (Moses 2) fence unit was constructed in FY16 to address riparian degradation caused by livestock overgrazing.  In FY20 BDAs and PALS were constructed to restore natural processes and reconnect the floodplain in part to aid natural revegetation.  In FY21 CCT staff will supplement the natural revegetation process with plantings of 3.0 acres using native hardwood species.

Maintain BDAs/PALS:  BDAs and PALS installed in FY20 at two sites, Lost/Loony Creek and Moses Creek will be monitored and maintained in FY21.  These activities include visual inspection of the condition and function of structures annually and after flood events.  Ongoing operation and maintenance activities would include replacing or adding posts and woven materials, increasing post  height, and extending structure width as the desired streambank lateral movement occurs.  Additional structures (one to two per year) may be added within the original project extent in accordance with the project adaptive management plan to ensure proper site function.

Maintain off-site water development:  In FY21, CCT staff will maintain/repair the Moses Spring development completed in FY18 constructed to provide an alternate water source to livestock ranging in the Moses Creek area.  The spring trough will receive maintenance to the supply and overflow plumbing to address excess water supply and overrun concerns.

Update Prioritization Plan:  We will subcontract with a qualified firm to update the Upper Columbia and Sanpoil Habitat Restoration Plan’s habitat protection and restoration prioritization scheme to incorporate quantitative biological objectives to rank specific protection versus restoration actions and include an explicit adaptive management plan.

Pre-project planning and design work:  Evaluation and development of selected projects from those identified in the Upper Columbia and Sanpoil Habitat Restoration Plan (Contract #73548 Rel 21) will occur in FY21. This is a carryover of work not completed in FY20.  Of the top 25 priority reaches evaluated within the plan, 15 are located in the Sanpoil River and its tributaries.  Much of the habitat within the Sanpoil River and tributaries is characterized by a lack of large woody debris.  From the 15 Sanpoil Watershed priority reaches, 13 reaches totaling 39.4 river-km are recommended for large wood addition including 12 engineered log jams.  Based on initial site survey and engineering recommendations, alternative restoration measures may also be identified.  A subcontract will be developed for design and engineering work for large woody debris placement in the Sanpoil River watershed.