Contract History:
The Protect and Restore Mill Creek Watershed (2000-036-00) has been an on-going project since 2000.  This project is being completed in cooperation with the Nez Perce National Forest (NPNF).  The ultimate goal of the project is to restore the physical and biological characteristics of the watershed to provide quality habitat for anadromous and resident fish species that support the historical, cultural and economic practices of the Nez Perce Tribe.  The Mill Creek watershed contains high habitat potential for steelhead trout and bull trout, and has moderate habitat potential for spring Chinook salmon.  Restoration in this watershed focuses on restoring riparian processes by addressing increased water temperatures, cattle grazing degradation, fish passage issues, and noxious weed infestations.  Previously completed contract work includes culvert assessment and prioritization, 3 culvert replacements, over 9,500 riparian trees planted, installation of 3.0 miles of fence, and continued monitoring and evaluation.

Summary of FY 2008 Contract Work:
This project is part of the Nez Perce National Forest-Nez Perce Tribe Watershed Restoration Partnership with in kind contributions from the Nez Perce National Forest.  This year's new contract work includes:

A) Technical review for one culvert replacement-
The Merton Creek culvert has been identified as a high priority for replacement because it is undersized and does not pass all life stages of fish.  This project will replace the existing 48" round culvert with a new 13’ span x 5’ 1” rise x 60’ length bottomless arch culvert and is located at T26N/R4E/Sec.33.  The replacement will return fish passage to 2.0 miles of stream for all life stages of aquatic species, including juvenile spring Chinook and steelhead.  This culvert will be replaced by the Forest Service (Nez Perce National Forest) under a separate BPA-NPNF contract of this project, and the Nez Perce Tribe will assist in bid package preparation, contractor selection, technical oversight, final inspection, and the associated implementation and effectiveness monitoring and evaluation.

B ) Riparian planting-
The meadow habitat in upper Mill Creek has lost over 90% of its riparian vegetation since 1930.  It is virtually devoid of riparian vegetation, so this project will re-vegetate the riparian zone by planting an estimated 2,400 native riparian trees within the Mill Creek upper meadow area.  Species of trees to be planted include Drummond willow, Thinleaf alder, and Red osier dogwood.

C) Fence maintenance-
Three miles of fence were constructed between the years of 2000 & 2001 to protect critical meadow habitat in the upper Mill Creek Meadow area.  The fence requires annual maintenance to repair windfall, snow and human damage.

D) Continued monitoring and evaluation-
Project effectiveness monitoring:  A monitoring protocol for culvert replacements will track the status of habitat within and around the culvert, as well as the stream channel' s reaction to the newly installed culvert.  Monitoring for culvert replacements includes fish surveys above and below culverts, channel grade, in-culvert substrate, and profile measurements.  A report on the success of previously and newly installed culverts will be completed.  Monitoring is scheduled for the Merton Creek culvert and the Hepner Creek culvert in FY 08. Initial culvert monitoring was completed on the Merton Creek culvert in FY 07.

Status and Trend Monitoring: A monitoring protocol for selected stream habitat reaches will track the status and trends of Mill Creek. Information will be collected on fish abundance and distribution, macro-invertebrates, flow, temperature, sediment composition, and habitat parameters to include channel morphology, valley width index, Wolman Pebble counts, cobble embeddedness, large woody debris, bank stability, and riparian condition and density.  This data will be summarized in a monitoring report, showing trends of conditions as a result of watershed restoration activities.  Three reaches on Mill Creek are scheduled for monitoring in FY 08. Monitoring of some of the parameters at these reaches began in FY 2000 and periodic monitoring has occurred annually since FY 2000.