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 09 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 09 SOW.  

The Resource Assessment and Inventory Protocol (RIPP) process will continue on non-tribal properties within the areas identified as priority assessment units in the Big Canyon Creek Ecological Restoration Strategy.  The RIPP protocol will complete a resource inventory, site specific assessment and result in the development of a land management plan for 6 properties within the prioritized geographic areas in the Big Canyon watershed.  Restoration projects identified and selected through the RIPP process will be prioritized for implementation in FY2010.  Under this contract the NPSWCD plans to control 3 acres of noxious and invasive weeds, plant 2 acres with native trees and shrubs, provide technical assistance for 1820 acres of no-till, direct seeding systems, and maintain all previously planted vegetation through irrigation and weed control.

Status and Trend and Implementation/Effectiveness monitoring:  The NPSWCD will continue monitoring four implementation projects to determine their effectiveness and develop adaptive management techniques for design protocols.