Contract Summary:

Due to the delay in the issuance of the Federal Columbia River Power System Biological Opinion (FCRPS BiOp), the East Fork of the South Fork Salmon River Passage Restoration project did not begin in fiscal year 2007 as originally planned.  A pre-implementation planning and coordination contract was issued in FY 2007 to begin the necessary project planning and environmental compliance requirements with the Payette National Forest (PNF) and the Boise National Forest (BNF) while the BiOp awaited resolution.  Because no implementation began in FY 07, the private landowner in the project focal area entered into a lease to purchase agreement with the Vista Gold mining company who has begun exploratory research to determine the feasibility of re-initiating mining activities.

Since steelhead, spring Chinook, bull trout and westslope cutthroat trout passage can not currently be restored through the old Stibnite Mine Site as originally proposed due to lack of landowner consent, the Nez Perce Tribe and Forest Service (PNF and BNF) proposed several other high priority habitat restoration actions throughout the South Fork Salmon watershed to provide the same or more biological benefit to the corresponding fish population groups.  This change in scope request was approved by the Budget Oversight Group (BOG), and the geographic area of the project increased from one small site on the East Fork of the South Fork Salmon river to many habitat improvement sites throughout the South Fork Salmon watershed.  

Instead of restoring fish passage through the former mine site using a natural step pool configuration, reconnecting the floodplain, re-vegetating the riparian area and increasing instream habitat complexity within one small area of the subwatershed, the NPT, PNF and BNF will now replace fish passage barrier culverts, reconnect floodplains, re-vegetate riparian areas, increase instream habitat complexity and decommission roads within the entire South Fork Salmon watershed.  As a result, the potential to provide direct biological benefit to the anadromous and resident fish populations is greatly increased over a much larger geographic area for the same quantity of funds.

Summary of FY 08 Implementation:

Nez Perce Tribe (NPT) Watershed Restoration follows a ridge top to ridge top approach including implementation focused on increasing aquatic habitat connectivity and decreasing resource impacts from roads. The cost share on this project will be contributed by the Payette National Forest who provides an approximate 30% match including cash and in-kind contributions.

FY 08 implementation includes two culvert replacements, native revegetation, in-stream habitat complexity structure installation, a comprehensive road inventory and assessment to prioritize future road decommissioning, outreach and education to landowners, the public and students, and the associated project implementation effectiveness monitoring and evaluation.  Following the September 10, 2008 BOG meeting request to have an in-year transfer of $142,000 FY09 funds to FY08 to subcontract the implementation of the Parks Creek Bridge.