This project seeks to restore A-run Snake River Steelhead to a robust, self-sustaining population within the Potlatch River through:

1. Coordinated development of habitat and land management improvement practices on private/public agricultural, forest and range lands,

2. Coordination of interagency watershed planning efforts, continuation of watershed monitoring and

3. Development of outreach programs to landowners, agricultural producers, and the general public.  

The primary objectives of this contract include:

• Identify, plan, design, fund and implement best management practices to improve steelhead habitat within the Potlatch River watershed. Wild Snake River Steelhead are present throughout the various watershed within the Potlatch River drainage.  Best management practices have been designed to enhance conditions within the drainage to address various limiting factors to wild steelhead production and productivity.  Meadow restoration projects within the Big Bear, Little Bear and Corral Creek watersheds have been designed to enhance late spring and summer base flows and minimize some of the extremes in the Potlatch River hydrograph.  Riparian restoration projects are designed to minimize sedimentation and maintain cooler water temperatures as well as enhance stream complexity in the future.  Installation of large woody debris is designed to increase summer and winter rearing habitat. Passage barrier removals are designed to increase access to high quality spawning areas and summer and winter rearing habitat.      

• Coordinate Potlatch River steelhead habitat restoration practices with the following management and restoration plans:
                   *  Clearwater Subbasin Management Plan - Northwest Power and Conservation Council
                   *  Proposed ESA Recovery Plan for Snake River Idaho Spring/Summer Chinook Salmon and Steelhead Populations - NOAA Fisheries
                   *  Potlatch River Subbasin Assessment and TMDLs - Idaho Department of Environmental Quality
                   *  Potlatch River Subbasin Total Maximum Daily Load Implementation Plan for Agriculture - Idaho Department of Environmental Quality, Idaho Soil and Water Conservation Commission and Latah Soil and Water Conservation District
                   *  Potlatch River Watershed Management Plan - Latah Soil and Water Conservation District
• Maintain temperature, flow, and project effectiveness monitoring programs within the Potlatch River system.
• Revise Potlatch River Watershed Management Plan, as needed.

This proposal is consistent with the NWPCC Fish and Wildlife Program’s goal to develop habitat-based programs designed to rebuild healthy, naturally producing fish and wildlife populations by protecting, mitigating, and restoring habitats. This project is consistent with the objectives and strategies of the Clearwater Subbasin Management Plan. In addition, this project supports the recommendations contained within NOAA's ESA Recovery Plan for Snake River Idaho Spring/Summer Chinook Salmon and Steelhead Populations.

The 377,776-acre Potlatch River watershed is located in north-central Idaho and is the largest tributary in the lower Clearwater River.  The Potlatch River is critical to A-run Snake River steelhead.    

In an effort to lower stream temperatures, increase summer flows, decrease surface and channel erosion (and associated nutrient loading), and increase riparian habitat complexities, this project will focus on erosion control, nutrient reduction, and riparian restoration on private/public agricultural, forest and range lands through the implementation of erosion/sediment control structures, livestock exclusion fencing, off-site water developments, native plantings of riparian areas, protection of functional riparian and wetland areas, and enhanced agricultural practices to reduce erosion and nutrient runoff.  Priority tributaries for restoration work, as determined by the Potlatch River Watershed Management Plan, include:  Big Bear Creek, Little Bear Creek, Pine Creek, Cedar Creek, Corral Creek, Little Boulder Creek, Leopold Creek, Potlatch River, Ruby Creek, Moose Creek, Boulder Creek, Pivash Creek, East Fork Potlatch River, Feather Creek, Purdue Creek, Cougar Creek, and Bob's Creek.

Project 2008-604-00 is coordinated with contracts associated with Latah SWCD's Project 2002-061-00.