Contract History:

The Restoring Anadromous Fish Habitat in the Big Canyon Creek Watershed, project 1999-015-00, began in 1999.  This multi-year project focuses on restoring and improving anadromous and resident fish habitat within the Big Canyon Creek watershed.  The limiting factors addressed include low summer flows, habitat connectivity, loss of all or partial floodplain, sedimentation of spawning and rearing habitat, wide fluctuation in annual stream flows, high summer stream temperatures, and lack of in-stream cover.  Past accomplishments have included the installation of land improvement projects to address these limiting factors, including 3,000 acres of direct seed cropland tillage systems, 6,000 linear feet of grassed waterways, 3,000 LF of fencing, 6 alternative water systems, 23 water and sediment control structures, 25 acres of weed control, two livestock waste systems, 7,000 LF of riparian plantings, and the development of 20 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 "Big Canyon Creek Ecological Restoration Strategy," a document intended to direct efforts and resources toward the highest priority restoration projects and areas of the Big Canyon 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 Big Canyon Creek Watershed.

FY 08 Contract Summary:

The "Big Canyon Creek Ecological Restoration Strategy," 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 1,500 LF of fence, control 10 acres of noxious weeds, plant 5 acres with native trees and shrubs, install 1 alternative water development, install erosion control structures, provide technical assistance for 1,500 acres of no-till, direct seeding systems, improve 0.5 miles of agricultural access roads to reduce sedimentation, and maintain all previously planted vegetation through irrigation and weed control.

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 information 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 Big Canyon Creek watershed.