BACKGROUND

Habitat degradation/alteration and widespread stocking of non-native species have resulted in fish assemblages in the Pend Oreille subbasin that are drastically different from pre-development native communities. Native fish have been displaced throughout much of their historic range by non-native species, altered, and degraded habitats. Dams on the Pend Oreille River which block fish passage have created habitat more suitable for warmwater species than native species. The objectives of this project focus on: 1) implementing measures to restore tributary populations of native westslope cutthroat and bull trout, 2) enhancing tributary habitat that will support native populations of salmonids, 3) conducting baseline tributary assessments to identify potential restoration projects, and 4) monitoring past restoration efforts.  Stream habitat and fish assessments were first initiated in 1995. Based on recommendations from these assessments, tributary restoration projects started in 1996. In 2002, overall fish densities in restored tributary sites had increased 47%; however, nonnative species, such as eastern brook trout, brown trout, and rainbow trout accounted for much of the increase. Therefore, tributary restoration efforts began to focus more on nonnative species removal in headwater streams and large scale bank restoration in the lower portions of watersheds where channel stability is impaired.  Non-native brook trout removal has been conducted in the upper West Branch LeClerc Creek watershed since 2002.  From 2002 to 2008, over 15,000 brook trout were removed from streams in the upper West Branch LeClerc Creek watershed.  In 2009, brook trout removals were included in the new Kalispel/BPA Nonnative Fish Suppression Project (Project No. 2007-149-00).   With nonnative removals now included in the Nonnative Suppression Project, the Resident Fish Habitat project was again able to focus on stream and riparian habitat improvements.

In summary, the Kalispel Natural Resource Department's plan for recovering native salmonid populations is:

1. Perform baseline stream habitat and fish population assessments to determine current distribution and abundance and identify core watersheds where recovery efforts will be focused.
2. Work to protect existing native populations and good habitat through participation in regional policy setting groups and consultation with area land, fish, and wildlife management agencies.
3. Pursue funding from various sources and participate jointly with other agencies in watershed restoration projects.
4. Implement instream and riparian restoration in identified recovery areas.
5. Monitor restoration and adapt management plans and actions to maximize restoration efforts.

OBJECTIVES

1.  Conduct fish population and habitat assessments in tributaries of the Pend Oreille River watershed.
2.  Develop recommendations for and implement restoration actions based on the likelihood of sound biological outcomes.
3.  Monitor and evaluate restoration efforts, continually striving for the most cost effective and biologically sound approaches.
4.  Maintain habitat enhancement structures (riparian fence, instream structures, etc.).



APPROACH

Baseline fish surveys are completed to provide information on fish species distribution and abundance.  Fish habitat surveys are conducted to collect information used to assess what habitat attributes may be limiting fish abundance.  Habitat assessments also provide the information needed to identify reaches where restoration activities are needed, prioritize those stream reaches, and identify which habitat restoration techniques may be appropriate.   Attributes (e.g. LWD size and frequency, channel dimensions, substrate size distribution, residual pool volume) are measured in a reference (relatively unimpacted) reach to provide a model for the restoration reach.  Bankfull depth and water surface slope required to move the largest particle size, and shear stress are calculated to validate the restoration design.  Prior to placement of instream structures, channel cross sections are measured to establish pre-implementation profile; each site is benchmarked and effectiveness monitoring will be conducted at these same sites.
The Kalispel Tribe has continued to mitigate for wildlife habitat losses as part of the Albeni Falls Wildlife Mitigation Project by acquiring the Big Meadows area (Priest Lake) over several years to include a total of 773 acres.  Goose Creek bisects Big Meadows prior to its confluence with the Upper West Branch Priest River.  Previous management of the land included channelizing and dredging portions of Goose Creek in an effort to drain the meadow and create better agricultural land.  Baseline habitat assessments conducted in 2009 documented significantly reduced channel length, lateral and vertical instability, reduced habitat quality, and poor riparian vegetation.  Channelization and subsequent vertical erosion have lowered the groundwater table and converted the formerly wet meadow into upland pasture.  

The Kalispel Tribe has established a goal of restoring aquatic, riparian, and wetland habitats within Big Meadows by restoring Goose Creek to its historic bed elevation prior to anthropogenic alterations through complete channel reconstruction (3.65 km).  In order to prevent further invasion of nonnative fish in the watershed, a barrier was constructed at the downstream extent of the project area in 2011.  After the new channel has been activated stream flow conveyed through the barrier, piscicide treatments will be conducted in the watershed to remove nonnative species.  Big Meadows will be protected in perpetuity by the Kalispel Tribe through a long term conservation management plan.  The restoration of Goose Creek will be the primary objective of the Kalispel Resident Fish Project- Habitat for the next 4 years.

Due to the magnitude of the project area, the Conceptual Design Plan for the Restoration of Goose Creek and Big Meadows (Confluence 2010) has been broken into five phases, each of which can be accomplished in a calendar year.  The proposed project phases were developed based on constructability.   The Kalispel Resident Fish Project-Habitat scope of work for the next four years will be to implement the Goose Creek Channel Reconstruction.  To date, $298,298 in cost-share has been contributed to the project.  KNRD will continue to pursue additional funding opportunities for the Goose Creek Channel Restoration.  In the event that cost-share funds offset the need for BPA funds for this project, baseline habitat and fish population assessments will be conducted in additional Pend Oreille watershed tributaries.