Contract History - Red River

This project began in 2002 and became part of the Nez Perce Tribe Fisheries Watershed Department’s habitat restoration program.  In 2002, the Red River Ecosystem Analysis at the Watershed Scale (EAWS) was completed.  While this was mainly a Forest Service effort, the NPT was involved in the transportation planning, and review of the entire document.  NPT field crews also surveyed approximately 100 miles of roads and 264 high priority culverts/stream crossings.  In 2003, the NEPA process was initiated for the Upper Red River Watershed Restoration Project which consists of road decommissioning, road improvements, one major culvert replacement, and campground improvements.  NEPA and ESA consultation were completed in 2004, as well as the engineering surveys for the road decommissioning and improvements.  

In 2005, the Bridge Creek Campground Improvements were implemented, and in 2006 - 2007 23 miles of roads were decommissioned, 9 miles of roads were improved, culvert 1709 was replaced, 15,200 riparian plants were planted along approximately 4 miles of the mainstem of Red River, and the Red River Meadow conservation easement pursuit began.  In 2008, approximately 5,000 riparian plants were planted along approximately 4 miles of the mainstem Red River, designs for five culvert replacements were completed (Deadwood, Siegel, Schooner, Deer, and Soda Creeks), and conservation easement activities continued - the appraisal was completed, partners were secured, and a PCSRF Idaho Office of Species Conservation grant awarded for $250,000 towards the purchase of the easement.  In 2009, the Red River Narrows Stream Restoration Project was implemented which consisted of 2 miles of mainstem Red River post dredge mine rehabilitation, mine tailings pile re-grading, stream channel reconstruction, and the installation of instream habitat complexity structures such as engineered log jams.  NPT personnel also planted approximately 4 miles of the riparian corridor (4,500 plants) of the mainstem of Red River, and continued conservation easement acquisition activities in the Red River Meadow.  

In 2010, the Red River Meadow conservation easement was purchased (256 acres), the Red River Narrows revegetation was completed, and revegetation efforts continued in the Red River Meadows.  NPT and NPCNF personnel also completed the engineering surveys and design of the Deadwood Road Decommissioning/Improvement Project, and maintained the cattle exclusion fence on the Red River Meadow conservation easement property.  Project implementation/effectiveness monitoring and evaluation was completed for the Red River Narrows Stream Restoration Project, culvert replacements and removals, and road decommissioning and improvement.  In 2011, the Deadwood Road Decommissioning and Improvement was completed, revegetation efforts continued on the Red River Meadow easement and Red River Narrows, fence maintenance was implemented on the easement property, and project implementation/effectiveness monitoring and evaluation continued.  In 2012/2013, three culvert replacement designs were completed and the large woody debris (LWD) and channel restoration design (on the Red River Conservation Easement) was initiated.  Implementation included one culvert replacement, riparian planting on the Red River Meadow easement property, conducting additional low elevation aerial photography, removal of five log culverts, and  4 miles of the South Fork Red River Road Decommissioning project.  2014 work consisted of implementing the remainder of the S. Fork Red River Road Decommissioning project, improving FS Road #1166 (1.5 miles), replacing a culvert on the Soda Creek Road #1172, and finalizing the design for the Red River CE Restoration project.  In 2015, two culverts were replaced on FS Road #1172 (Soda Cr MP 3.4 & 3.5).  All fence maintenance on the Red River Narrow Project area as well as the conservation easement were completed.

In 2016 we will implement the Red River CE Restoration project which consists of reconstructing the mainstem channel of Red River into several historic meander bends as well as re-grading tailing piles/berms to re-connect the floodplain with the stream.  In addition, annual fence maintenance for the RRCE and Red River Narrows project will be completed.  If funds and riparian plants are available, we will also continue our annual riparian planting in the meadow on private properties.

Contract History - Newsome Creek

Beginning in 2000, this project evolved from the 1996 Newsome Creek Haysfork Gloryhole Project (one of the original Clearwater Early Action projects).  This comprehensive restoration effort focuses on mitigating and restoring limiting factors to fisheries production.  The primary limiting factors are excessive sedimentation into the spawning and rearing areas of streams, and the lack of available habitat and habitat connectivity.  These limiting factors have resulted from forest management practices, specifically road building (watershed has very high road densities), and mining.  

Completed contract work includes the completion of the Newsome Creek Ecosystem Analysis at the Watershed Scale (EAWS), road condition surveys completed for the entire watershed (approximately 220 miles), 26 miles of road decommissioning, 18 miles of road improvement, culvert/stream crossing inventories completed for all high priority sites, replacement of the Mare Creek & Mule Creek culverts, Newsome Creek Channel Restoration Feasibility Study, the completed NEPA process for the Newsome Creek Watershed Restoration Project, and completion of the final design for the Newsome Creek channel reconstruction and restoration.  Implementation of the floodplain and channel restoration began in 2011 with Reaches 5 & 4 being completed, and Reach 3 being completed in 2012.  2013 implementation included approximately half of the floodplain restoration in Reach 2 as well as constructing a new spillway and channel in Haysfork Sediment Settling Pond.  FY 2014 contract implementation focused on continuing the Newsome Stream Restoration Project, with additional floodplain restoration in stream reach 2 (another 22,000 cubic yards of dredge removal) and the re-vegetation of reaches 5, 4, and 3. Reach 2 floodplain restoration was completed in FY 2015 with the removal of approximately 37,000 cubic yards of dredge material from the valley bottom.  2016 work entailed re-designing Reach 2 to account for the valley-wide floodplain restoration.

These projects have been, and are still currently a part of the Nez Perce Tribe, BPA, and Nez Perce - Clearwater National Forest Restoration Partnership.  Since the project’s inception we have shared project planning, funding, and implementation responsibilities.

Beginning with the 2017 contract, Red River and Newsome Creek contracts were combined into one contract for ease of administration, as both projects are similar in scope, with similar objectives, and have the same agency partnerships and are both major tributaries to the South Fork of the Clearwater River.

2017 implementation work will consist of the following:  Implementation of stream restoration for Newsome Creek Stream Reach 2; culvert replacement designs for 2 fish barrier culverts on Dawson Creek (tributary to Red River); planting and maintenance of the Lower Red River Meadow Restoration Project; pre-acquisition activities for a potential conservation easement in Red River; and fence maintenance on the Red River Meadow Conservation Easement.