PROJECT / CONTRACT HISTORY

BPA project 2002-070 -00, entitled “Restoring Anadromous Fish Habitat in the Lapwai Creek Watershed”, addresses the need to restore the Lapwai Creek aquatic ecosystem so that the habitat within the watershed no longer limits recovery of the ESA Threatened Lower Clearwater Subbasin Steelhead population.

Steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss)  are an ecologically significant resource of the Lapwai Creek watershed and compose a portion of the federally listed Snake River Basin Steelhead distinct population segment (DPS).  The majority of the streams within the watershed are federally identified as critical habitat for this DPS.  The Nez Perce Soil and Water Conservation District (NPSWCD) and the Nez Perce Tribe (NPT), in an effort to support the existence of these and other aquatic species, developed the "Strategy for the Ecological Restoration of Lapwai Creek Watershed" (2009; attached to this contract) document to direct efforts and resources toward the highest priority restoration projects and areas of the watershed.  The prioritization framework considered four aspects to determine the relative importance of performing restoration in a geographic area:  1) density of critical fish species, 2) physical condition for the habitat, 3 water quantity and 4) water quality.  From this analysis priority geographic areas within the watershed were identified.  The top three areas to pursue restoration are Lapwai Creek from its mouth to stream KM 34, Sweetwater Creek from its mouth to KM 13, and Mission Creek from its mouth to KM 24.5.  

Presence of steelhead within the watershed is documented through three efforts: A) the 2003-2006 BPA funded project (BPA project number 1999-017-00) to collect juvenile steelhead fish distribution and abundance data (this data set was the basis of the watershed restoration plan), B) juvenile steelhead density monitoring conducted in 2010-2019 by Dr. Kennedy at University of Idaho, and C) Adult PIT Tag study conducted by the Nez Perce Tribe from 2010-2019.  Based upon the adult data indicating that Mission Creek and Sweetwater Creek have similar numbers of adult fish, these tributaries will continue to be a priority for restoration.  

The NPSWCD proposes to address the primary factors limiting abundance and productivity of the focal species, steelhead (O. mykiss). The NPSWCD and NPT have prioritized restoration projects to address these limiting factors based on the Clearwater Subbasin Plan (NPPC, 2005), the Lapwai Creek Ecological Restoration Strategy (Richardson and Rasmussen, 2009), current watershed surveys (NPT 2012), and the Clearwater Expert Panel process (2012).

Limiting factors for the Lower Clearwater Steelhead population in the Lapwai Creek watershed were identified in the 2009 Ecological Restoration Strategy and then updated during the 2012 FCPRS BiOp Expert Panel process using NOAA’s newly developed standardized terminology.  The limiting factors for the watershed include: anthropogenic barriers, riparian condition, large wood debris recruitment, bed and channel form, in-stream structural complexity, increased sediment quantity, elevated temperatures, toxic contaminants, and decreased water quantity.

Past accomplishments have entailed the installation of land improvement projects to address these limiting factors, including 10.03 miles of riparian fencing, 6.21 miles of upland fencing, 1,008.17 acres of weed control, two livestock waste systems, 13,292.8 LF of riparian plantings, 8 stream crossings, 12.25 miles of road improvements, 2 miles of streambank bioengineering restoration, 15.57 acres of wetland enhancement, 25764.99 acres of direct seeding, 22 alternative watering systems for livestock, 13 water and sediment control structures, 2,200 LF grassed waterway, the development of 20 habitat conservation plans, 9.27 miles of access restored, 3.1 miles of floodplain reconnected, 86.1 acres of tree planting, and 200 acres of grass seeding.

SUMMARY OF FY21 CONTRACT

The "Strategy for Ecological Restoration of Lapwai Creek Watershed" and the NPSWCD's project ranking sheet, were the main documents used to prioritize implementation work in the FY21 SOW.  Work planned for the May 1, 2021 through April 30, 2022 contract period includes:

All projects planned in this FY are located on private lands and owner permission has been obtained.

- Vegetative plantings - 1.5 acres with native trees, shrubs, grass
- Maintenance of vegetation planted at 27 sites from 2016 to 2020 (73.5 acres). Protection of approximately 39 acres of wetland meadow from noxious weeds, and 0.8 acre of streambanks protected from hybrid knotweed
- Inventory and assessment on four private land parcels and development of restoration plans for those parcels
- Installation of 1,200 feet of fence
- Stream temperature monitoring at 14 sites
- Preparation of non-technical annual progress report for prior contract period
- Preparation of draft RME report for 2021 temperature data
- Finalization and uploading of RME report for 2020 temperature data
- Outreach efforts to landowners in high priority restoration areas including direct mailings, website, and newsletters
- Identify and select projects for future contract periods
- Develop 1 to 4 designs for restoration projects at various sites in the Lapwai Creek basin.

Work completed under this contract assists in meeting the following objectives from the Lapwai Creek restoration plan:

Objective 1 – Reduce stream temperatures
Reduce water temperatures to levels meeting applicable water quality standards for life stage specific needs of anadromous and native resident fish, with an established upward trend in the number of stream miles meeting standards. The benchmark for this objective is to reduce overall days exceeding daily average temperatures at less than 16 degrees Celsius for spawning and rearing for anadromous salmonids and less than 20 degrees Celsius under all circumstances (NPCC 1994). Additional benchmarks for specific project types are discussed under relevant deliverables. Desired outcomes include restoring hydrologic and riparian functions related to temperature, identifying and rehabilitating wetland and floodplain areas, and continuing efforts aimed at increasing streamside shading where shading has been reduced by anthropogenic activities. This objective is consistent with the Clearwater Subbasin Management Plan, pg 35 (NPCC, 2005).

Objective 2 – Improve aquatic habitat diversity and complexity
Improve aquatic habitat diversity and complexity to levels consistent with objectives in the subbasin plan, with particular emphasis on recovery of anadromous stocks. Aquatic habitat condition (including diversity and/or complexity components) is limiting all focal species. Improvement in habitat productivity is considered critical to attainment of goals for both anadromous and resident species. Address priority problems with protection and restoration activities designed to promote development of more complex and diverse habitats through improved watershed condition and function. Desired outcomes include additions of large woody debris, stream channel reconstruction, increased side channels, increased pool quality/quantity, floodplain reconstruction, protecting and restoring wetland, and improved hydrologic functions. Management criteria includes water temperature of 16°C, adequate sources of woody debris recruitment, width to depth ratios <10, streambank conditions are >90% stable, with on average, less than 10% of banks actively eroding, and overbank flows occur on a 1.5 – 2 year event. Link to Clearwater Subbasin Plan, pg. 37 (NPCC, 2005).

Objective 3 – Reduce instream sedimentation
Reduce instream sedimentation to levels meeting applicable water quality standards, with an established upward trend in the number of stream miles meeting standards. Benchmarks for this activity include streambanks are >90% stable, < 20% cobble embeddedness, and turbidity is low (NOAA, 1996). Additional benchmarks for specific project types are discussed under relevant deliverables. Desired outcomes include restoring streambank condition, reducing sediment delivery to the stream from hydrologically connected roads and uplands, and reducing sediment inputs by implementing practices that address problems from logging, mining, agriculture, and other historic and current sediment producing activities. This objective is consistent with the Clearwater Subbasin Management Plan, pg 35 (NPCC, 2005).

Status and Trend and Implementation/Effectiveness monitoring under this contract is coordinated with the Nez Perce Tribe. The Nez Perce Tribe conducts the monitoring and evaluation required to determine population status and trends, as well as the physical and biological response to the habitat/watershed restoration efforts. The Nez Perce Soil and Water Conservation District (NPSWCD) utilizes the Nez Perce Tribe's monitoring data to prioritize habitat improvement and site specific project areas.