Project Objectives:

1. Provide juvenile fish passage and access to rearing habitat above current perched ford in Butte Creek, a steelhead and resident rainbow fish bearing stream.
2. Reduce sediment and siltation caused by vehicular and livestock traffic crossing at the ford site.
3. Reduce sediment and siltation from overland flow, spring runoff, and road drainage at ford site.
4. Improve bedload transport at the lower end of Butte Creek.
5. Enhance adult passage for both steelhead and resident rainbow trout.

Relevance to Imnaha Subbasin Plan:  Imnaha Subbasin Plan Priorities, draft document, October 4, 2005 identifies the following activities that are relevant to this project:
1. Page #2 C.2.:  Re-connect existing functional habitats.
2. Page #2 C.3.:  Restore normative watershed processes in dysfunctional habitats.
3. Page #2 C.4.:  Perform Instream or other enhancements.

Increase passage efficiency of in-stream obstructions including culverts, bridges, diversion structures, and unscreened diversions.  Fish passage barriers should be corrected wherever they exist.  However, if this is not feasible, a prioritization of the known barriers should be developed to account for life history stage impacted, miles of habitat reopened, and quality of reopened habitat.  Problem 10 (p 35) lists the known passage problems; however, this is not a comprehensive list for all obstructions to migration in the Imnaha subbasin.  It is recommended that the fish passage inventory, analysis and prioritization currently being conducted by the Nez Perce Tribe be utilized to further clarify/define the areas needing mitigation (Imnaha Subbasin Plan Priorities, draft document, October 4, 2005, page 8).
  
Project Description:

Introduction:  The Pocket Ranch, 5817 acres in size with an elevation range of 2600 to 5500 feet, is owned and operated by Bruce Hampton and is managed for cattle, grasslands, timber, water and wildlife.  Butte and Trail Creeks, both perennial, course through the property, and numerous ponds and springs exist providing benefit to both wildlife and cattle.  Ponderosa pine, Douglas fir, aspen and cottonwood are typical with Idaho fescue and bluebunch wheatgrass characterizing the grassland communities.  In 2005 approximately 200 cow/calf pairs grazed the property.  This project located near the mouth of Butte Creek, a tributary to Little Sheep Creek in the Imnaha subbasin, will replace an existing perched ford road crossing with a pre-engineered, 53 foot railroad car bridge.  

Existing Condition: The current ford, located just upstream of Highway 350 (Imnaha Highway) on Butte Creek at the ranch entrance, is a fish passage barrier (juvenile steelhead), contributes sediment, causes siltation, and has disrupted bedload transport.  The conversion from ford to bridge will ameliorate the aforementioned in-stream problems.

The road is a draw bottom road, starts at Highway 350, and follows the creek to its headwaters.  The removal or replacement of the road is not practical for the landowner as it is a main access for the property and replacement would require full bench construction in steep rugged country.  Traffic on the road is typically light and includes both light (ATV & 4x4 pickup) and heavy equipment for management and the moving of livestock.  Spring runoff, overland flow, and road drainage contribute sediment from the road to the creek at the ford.  Livestock enter and exit the property on this road.  

Butte Creek is not fenced so livestock have access to the stream.  Livestock numbers have been reduced from previous ownership, ample upland/off stream water exists, a grazing management plan written with the assistance of NRCS through the grassland reserve program has been implemented, better livestock distribution and grass utilization is being realized.            
      
Benefits:

1. Restore juvenile passage opening approximately ¾ mile of habitat at the lower end of Butte Creek above the ford.
2. Reduced sediment and siltation on lowest ½ mile of Butte Creek.  
3. Restored bedload transport on lowest ½ mile of Butte Creek.
4. Improved adult passage above the ford.

Project Maintenance:  The bridge will be maintained by the landowner for the lifetime of the project.