The watershed restoration work elements within this project area, the Asotin Creek Watershed, follow the watershed restoration approach adopted by the Nez Perce Tribe Department of Fisheries Resource Management (DFRM) Watershed Division.  The vision of the Nez Perce Tribe DFRM-Watershed Division  focuses on protecting, restoring, and enhancing watersheds and treaty resources within the ceded territory of the Nez Perce Tribe under the Treaty of 1855 with the United States Federal Government.  The program uses a holistic approach, which encompasses entire watersheds, ridge top to ridge top, emphasizing all cultural aspects and strategies that rely on natural fish production and healthy river ecosystems.  The Nez Perce Tribe DFRM-Watershed Division strives towards maximizing historic ecosystem productivity and health for the restoration of anadromous and resident fish populations and the habitat on which all depend for future generations.

PROJECT GOAL:  The ultimate goal of this project is to work with the holistic,  ridge top to ridge top approach to protect and restore the ecological and biological functions of the Asotin Creek Watershed to assist in the recovery of anadromous and resident fish species.

LOCATION OF PROJECT:  Asotin Creek is a fourth order tributary to the Snake River (Rm 145), which drains approximately 325 square miles of Asotin and Garfield Counties in Washington. The headwaters of Asotin Creek originate in the Blue Mountains and flows east into the Snake River at Asotin, Washington.  Asotin Creek is within the treaty territory of the Nez Perce Tribe and within Water Resource Inventory Area (WRIA) #35. This project will take place in the upper headwaters of the Asotin Creek watershed, within the Umatilla National Forest. The Asotin Creek watershed is broken out into several sub-watersheds for project description purposes, Lick Creek, Charley Creek, North Fork Asotin Creek, South Fork Asotin Creek and Upper George Creek.

In 2002-2003 NEPA, road surveys/assessment and decommissioning were performed in the Lick Creek sub-watershed. In 2004-2005 NEPA, road surveys/assessments and decommissioning were performed in a major portion of the Charley Creek sub-watershed.  The 2006/2007 project area will encompass the South Fork subwatershed of Asotin Creek. Project areas are chosen based on completion of the NEPA process review for the various sub-watersheds.  In 2006 -2007, NEPA, road surveys/assessments and decommissioning were performed in the S. Fork Asotin Creek sub-watershed.   Further road decommissioning, up to 23 miles, is planned to be performed in 2007 in the S. Fork Asotin Creek sub-watershed.  Road decommissioning projects that were unfinished in 2006 due to the forest fires will be completed in 2007.  Upon completion of these processes in the South Fork in 2006 and 2007, it is planned to continue the process into the Upper George Creek and the North Fork Asotin Creek sub-watersheds.

In 2007, the project will include the design and implementation of a fish barrier replacement structure on George Creek.  This work element will be implemented on private land near Trent Grade in cooperation with the Asotin County Conservation District.  The existing culvert is a full barrier to most aquatic life species and all juvenile anadromous and resident fish species.  The Trent Grade (George Creek) Passage Structure will open 11.21 miles of habitat, and provide a  natural stream channel to facilitate passage for all aquatic life forms.