Contracts associated with Project 2008-604-00 (Idaho Accord) are coordinated with contracts associated with Latah SWCD's Project 2002-061-00. The primary focus of 2002-061-00 contracts is the identification, planning, and development of funding proposals for new restoration practices that will be implemented and maintained through contracts associated with Project 2008-604-00 (Idaho Accord) and other private, local, state, and federal funding programs.

Per past BPA guidance, fixed institutional/implementation expenses related to Latah SWCD planning and design capacity (e.g., office leases, communication contracts) are assigned to contracts associated with Project 2002-061-00. Fixed and variable implementation and adaptive management/maintenance expenses (e.g., field staff, equipment, landowner agreements, shop/storage unit leases) related to restoration projects will be assigned to contracts associated with Project 2008-604-00.

The com... prehensive understanding of the annual restoration efforts of Latah SWCD will need to jointly consider annual contracts from both 2002-061-00 and 2008-604-00 projects.

Simultaneously, these two BPA/Latah SWCD projects seek 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.

To improve steelhead habitat within the Potlatch River watershed, Latah SWCD will address known limiting factors for steelhead through proven restoration methods. Wild Snake River Steelhead are present throughout the various watersheds within the Potlatch River drainage and restoration practices have been designed to enhance conditions within the drainage to address various limiting factors to wild steelhead production and productivity. Meadow restoration projects which emphasize process-based and holistic restoration techniques within the Big Bear Creek (including the Little Bear Creek tributary), Corral Creek, and East Fork Potlatch River subwatersheds have been designed to enhance late spring and summer base flows and minimize some of the extremes in the Potlatch River hydrograph. The limiting factors identified for this population include the following: water temperature, instream flow, flow timing, sediment supply, floodplain connectivity and riparian vegetation, habitat complexity, and migration barriers. (NMFS 2017, Ch 6, pg. 46)

Priority actions to address these limiting factors for steelhead recovery as provided by the NMFS 2017 recovery plan
include:
1. Restore hydrologic processes to retain surface flow by reducing surface runoff from altered land surfaces, disconnecting artificial drainage systems from natural drainage systems, and modifying water uses. This will contribute to reducing stream temperature problems.
2. Restore channel-forming processes by reestablishing floodplains in incised channels, removing or setting back flood control structures, and rehabilitating stream channels that have been straightened.
3. Reestablish riparian vegetation to improve LWD recruitment and create shade for streams.
4. Reduce fine sediment delivery to streams where it is increased caused by agriculture, road drainage systems (including undersized culverts), or other artificial sources.

Restoration efforts to combat climate change in the Potlatch watershed were specifically detailed in the Idaho Office of Species Conservation’s (IOSC) proposal to the Independent Scientific Review Panel (ISRP) for the FY2023-2027 Geographic Review. In the 2008-064-00 Project proposal to the ISRP, IOSC presented the argument that climate change may exacerbate the limiting factors for steelhead in the Potlatch River, but protection of high-quality habitats, re-establishing connectivity, and restoring hydrologic processes may mitigate the effects of climate change over the next several decades (Battin et al 2007, Bisson 2008, Beechie et al 2013). The 2019 Potlatch River Watershed Plan Amendment adopted the previous Independent Scientific Advisory Board recommendations to incorporate climate change considerations into tributary restoration and recovery planning. Recommendations included: 1.) minimizing temperature increases by enhancing stream channel shading and augmenting summer flow and 2.) restoring wetlands, meadows, floodplains, and other landscape features that store water and assessing potential for augmenting flows from existing manmade reservoirs.

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.

The strategies listed above to improve steelhead habitat will also help to mitigate the future negative effects on the steelhead population from climate change (NMFS 2017, Ch. 6.1 pg. 22). Higher water temperatures and flow volume and timing alterations are anticipated as a result of climate change and would further limit steelhead access to spawning and rearing habitat. "Tributary projects that protect or restore areas that function as thermal refugia, or ensure that steelhead have access to these areas, would help alleviate potential negative impacts associated with climate change" (NMFS 2017, Ch. 6, pg. 22).

Strategies listed in the NMFS Recovery plan (NMFS 2017, Ch. 4, pg. 135) to alleviate effects of climate change on steelhead in freshwater tributary habitats include:
* Minimizing increasing stream temperature by retaining shade and augmenting summer flow conditions
* Protecting and restoring wetlands, floodplains and other landscape features that store water

“Improvements in floodplain connectivity and hydraulic processes will provide the best opportunities to be proactive in the face of climate change” (NMFS 2017, Ch. 4, pg. 135).
Beechie et al. are cited in the NMFS recovery plan in Ch. 4 and their table which summarizes habitat restoration actions to ameliorate climate change provides a guide for suitable strategies to address future climate change impacts that would also benefit steelhead in the short-term. Restoring longitudinal connectivity through barrier removals, lateral connectivity through floodplain reconnections, and vertical connectivity by addressing channel incision and installing
grade control (ex. Beaver dam analogs) will address temperature increases, flow changes, and will increase fish resilience in the systems (Beechie et al. 2013).

This Project will coordinate Potlatch River steelhead habitat restoration practices in conjunction with the following management and restoration plans:
* Clearwater Subbasin Management Plan (2003) - Northwest Power and Conservation Council
* Potlatch River Watershed Management Plan (2007, Revised 2019) - Latah Soil and Water Conservation
* Potlatch River Subbasin Assessment and TMDLs (2008, 2017, 2018) - Idaho Department of Environmental Quality
* Potlatch River Subbasin Total Maximum Daily Load Implementation Plan for Agriculture (2010)- Idaho Department of Environmental Quality, Idaho Soil and Water Conservation Commission and Latah Soil and Water Conservation District
* ESA Recovery Plan for Snake River Idaho Spring/Summer Chinook Salmon and Steelhead Populations (2017) - NMFS
* IDFG Fisheries Management Plan, 2019-2024 (2019) - Idaho Department of Fish and Game
* Columbia River System Operations Biological Assessment, Appendix D, 2020 – BPA, BOR and ACOE https://www.salmonrecovery.gov/doc/default-source/FCRPS-BiOp/2020-01-23_crs-final-ba-withappendices.pdf?sfvrsn=2
* Final Report: Review of Anadromous Fish Habitat and Hatchery Projects, Independent Scientific Review Panel 2022, 2008-604-00 and 2002-061-00 projects with responses,
https://nwcouncil.app.box.com/s/bmi11b3yuhxvicfi8sslav1kqttixzig

2002-061-00 contracts are 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 Lower Clearwater River Mainstem population of steelhead is genetically distinct from other wild Clearwater River steelhead groups (Nielsen et al. 2009; Ackerman et al. 2016) and comprise the only “large” independent population in the Clearwater River major population group (MPG; ICBTRT 2003). As such, the Lower Mainstem Clearwater River steelhead population must achieve viability for the Clearwater MPG and ultimately the Snake River DPS to become viable (NMFS 2017). Also, the Clearwater was specifically identified in the most recent Columbia River System Operations Biological Assessment (2020), and as such, habitat metrics related to Habitat Access, Stream Complexity, and Riparian Habitat Improved were assigned. Therefore, prioritization and habitat restoration work implemented by Latah SWCD through this Project is important to achieving the habitat goals. 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.

To maintain 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 planning efforts for restoration efforts with process-based techniques on private/public agricultural, forest and range lands. Restoration strategies to meet these objectives include implementation of erosion/sediment control structures, livestock exclusion fencing, off-site water developments, native plantings of riparian areas, protection/restoration of functional riparian and wetland areas by addressing channel incision, and enhanced agricultural practices to reduce erosion and nutrient runoff. In addition, identification and modification of potential passage barriers can open suitable habitat to steelhead and improve density dependence factors currently existing within the watershed. Eliminating fish passage impediments also enhances access to thermal refugia and/or to spawning and rearing tributaries.

High priority/Tier 1 subwatersheds for restoration work, as determined by the Potlatch River Watershed Management Plan (Revised 2019), include: Big Bear Creek, Little Bear Creek, Corral Creek, and East Fork Potlatch River. These 4 subwatersheds were designated as high priority by the Potlatch Implementation Group and were chosen by fish biologist staff within the Idaho Department of Fish & Game and National Marine Fisheries Services based on steelhead
presence, available resources for steelhead, and watershed characteristics that indicated potential for restoration to achieve measurable results. Tier 1 and Tier 2 subwatersheds have potential for high quality large-scale restoration projects that will increase long-term watershed resiliency to the Potlatch River Basin as a whole.

The identified restoration activities in this contract are consistent with the goals and objectives as presented in the 2002-604-00 Project proposal to the ISRP Geographic Review for FY2023-2027. The goals, objectives and associated metrics in the 2008-064-00 Project are similar to the 2002-061-00 Project and were presented and revised following ISRP responses to the original proposal. The goals and objectives stated are as follows:

Revised Goal 1.) Enhance steelhead passage (all seasons and life stages) in priority watersheds.
Revised Biological Objective 1: Remove or modify passage barriers to provide access to a minimum of 25 miles of habitat by 2027.
Revised Goal 2.) Improve juvenile steelhead rearing conditions in the priority watersheds.
Revised Biological Objective 2: Improve habitat complexity (i.e., pool formation, instream cover, floodplain interaction, riparian growth, etc.) in a minimum of 7 miles of juvenile steelhead rearing habitat (summer and winter) by 2027.
Revised Goal 3.) Improve instream water flows to enhance and expand juvenile steelhead rearing habitat during summer base flows.
Revised Biological Objective 3: Maintain and improve instream flow in approximately 11 miles of stream in Potlatch River tributaries by 2027.

REFERENCES
Ackerman, M. W., N. Vu, and M. R. Campbell. 2016. Chinook Salmon and Steelhead genotyping for genetic stock identification at Lower Granite Dam. Idaho Department of Fish and Game Report 16-03, Boise.

Battin, J., M.W. Wiley, M.H. Ruckelhaus, R.N. Palmer, E. Korb, KK. Bartz, and H. Imaki. 2007. Projected impacts of climate change on salmon habitat restoration. PNAS 104(16): 6720-6725.
http://www.pnas.org/content/104/16/6720.full.pdf+html

Beechie, T., H. Imaki, J. Greene, A. Wade, H. Wu, G. Pess, P. Roni, J. Kimball, J. Stanford, P. Kiffney, and N. Mantua. 2013. Restoring salmon habitat for a changing climate. River Research and Applications 29:939–960. https://www.salmonrecovery.gov/Files/APR/Section%202%20Literature%20Cited/Beechie%20et%20al%202013_RRA%20restoring%20salmon%20habitat%20for%20a%20changing%20climate.pdf

Bisson, Pete. 2008. Salmon and trout in the Pacific Northwest and climate change. U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Forest Service, Climate Change Resource Center.
ICBTRT (Interior Columbia Basin Technical Recovery Team). 2003. Independent populations of Chinook, Steelhead, and Sockeye for listed evolutionarily significant units within the interior Columbia River domain, working draft.

Nielsen, J.L., A. Byrne, S.L. Graziano, and C.C. Kozfkay. 2009. Steelhead genetic diversity at multiple spatial scales in a managed basin: Snake River, Idaho. North American Journal of Fisheries Management 29:680-701.

NMFS (National Marine Fisheries Service). 2017. ESA Recovery Plan for Snake River Spring/Summer Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) & Snake River Steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss). https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/resource/document/recovery-plan-snake-river-spring-summer-chinook-salmon-andsnake-river-basin.
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