Contract History:

The Restoring Anadromous Fish Habitat in the Lapwai Creek Watershed, project 2002-070-00, began in 2003.  This multi-year project focuses on restoring and improving fish habitat within the Lapwai Creek watershed.  The limiting factors addressed include low summer flows, wide fluctuation in annual stream flows, connectivity, loss of all or partial floodplain, sedimentation of spawning and rearing habitat, high summer stream temperatures, and lack of in-stream cover.  Past accomplishments have entailed the installation of land improvement projects to address these limiting factors, including 7.32 miles of riparian fencing, 6.21 miles of upland fencing, 50 acres of weed control, two livestock waste systems, 8,000 LF of riparian plantings, one low flow stream crossing, 10.5 miles of road improvements, 1.5 miles of streambank bioengineering restoration, 4.5 acres of wetland enhancement, 15,209 acres of direct seeding, 27 alternative watering systems for livestock, 13 water and sediment control structures, and the development of 24 habitat conservation plans.  

Prior to the initiation of this project, a massive data gap existed on fish, the condition of fish habitat, and limiting factors within the watershed.  Under the FY 2007 contract, we focused primarily on the analysis and compilation of the fish presence and abundance data, and stream habitat data collected annually since 2003.  The data was analyzed and converted into a GIS-compatible format and then combined with other available, watershed-wide data sets developed by the Nez Perce Soil and Water Conservation District and the NPT Water Resources Division.  The synergistic effect of these combined data sets came together in the development of the "Strategy for the Ecological Restoration of Lapwai Creek Watershed," a document intended to direct efforts and resources toward the highest priority restoration projects and areas of the Lapwai Creek Watershed.  This document provides an accurate assessment of the status and health of the aquatic resources within the watershed, and will allow us to spatially prioritize the implementation of future watershed protection and restoration projects for the Lapwai Creek Watershed.
                                                                                                                                                                          
FY 08 Contract Summary:

The "Strategy for the Ecological Restoration of Lapwai Creek Watershed," which was completed under the FY 07 contract, was the main reference for prioritizing implementation and developing the FY 08 SOW.  

Under this contract the NPSWCD plans to install 4,000 LF of fence, control 30 acres of noxious weeds, plant 15 acres with native trees and shrubs, install 2 water developments, install 11 erosion control structures, remove four passage barriers, reconnect a historic side channel, and remove a dike to restore floodplain function.  

Status and Trend and Implementation/Effectiveness monitoring:  The Nez Perce Tribe conducts the monitoring and evaluation required to determine population status and trends, as well as the physical and biological response to the habitat/watershed restoration efforts.  The Nez Perce Soil and Water Conservation District (District) utilizes the Nez Perce Tribe's monitoring data to prioritize habitat improvement and site specific project areas.  Since the majority of the land within the watershed is privately owned, the District also coordinates with the landowners to obtain project approval for both the NPT and the NPSWCD to continue habitat restoration actions throughout the Lapwai Creek watershed.