The project scope is to implement high priority action items to maintain, enhance and restore fish habitat and fish passage in the priority stream segments of the Upper Salmon Basin area within the administrative boundaries of the Custer Soil and Water Conservation District.

Implementation of measures funded under this plan will achieve the objective of the Northwest Power Planning Council's Strategy for Salmon Recovery, the National Marine Fisheries Service Salmon Recovery Plan in terms of stabilizing and improving habitat for anadromous fish and the "Four Governors Salmon Recovery Recommendations for Salmon Recovery". Migratory and habitat connectivity across the watershed's valley bottom areas is of high importance to ecologically-based restoration efforts because the tributary sub-watersheds tend to be dominated by federal lands and often provide habitat strongholds for native species of fish and wildlife.

Key habitat limitations in the watershed's bottomland areas include migration problems/ blockages and streambed sedimentation. Addressing these limitations may offer an opportunity to enhance the watershed's anadromous salmonids and will clearly benefit other native species of salmonids, other fish, and wildlife.  The primary opportunity for addressing these problems in the East Fork and Upper Salmon watersheds is through the CSWCD and their collaborative efforts on non-federal land.

Projects developed for this SOW will enhance projects installed over the past three to six years under BPA/CSWCD contracts. The Stanley riparian fences has enhanced approximately 4.5 mile of riparian protection in the Upper Salmon. The additional fence to be installed under this contract will continue to show riparian improvements. Riparian plantings in lower Stanley will further enhance approximately six miles of continuous riparian fence in lower Stanley. Approximately 4.5 miles was installed under BPA contracts in 2005/2006. Continued efforts are being made in the East Fork, Salmon River, and Challis Creek to improve riparian protection in the Upper Salmon Basin.