This statement of work presents a project that is part of a collaborative effort in the Upper Salmon River Watershed with the purpose of benefiting ESA-listed salmonids.  The project focuses on developing and implementing restoration actions in the Upper Salmon River sub basin on both public and private land to address salmonid limiting factors in support of the Northwest Power and Conservation Council’s Sub Basin Management Plan (2004), Fish and Wildlife Program (2014), and meeting NOAA recovery plan goals for Upper Snake River Basin Salmon and Steelhead (NOAA 2017).  The area covered under this project in the Upper Salmon River includes the what is known as the 12-Mile Reach from Ellis, Idaho on the Salmon River and its tributaries, East Fork of the Salmon River and its tributaries, and the Upper Salmon Basin from East Fork to the Headwaters of the Salmon and its tributaries. This area has been identified as critical to the recovery of the Snake River Spring/Summer Chinook Salmon ESU (NOAA 2017). The Integrated Reach Assessment (IRA) (OSC 2019) and Upper Salmon Multiple Reach Assessment (MRA) references biological benefits to include increased resting opportunities, provide cover for juvenile Chinook salmon, maintain or improve stream temperatures that are suitable for salmonids throughout the year, and increase pool quantity and quality. Although the MRA does not cover the entire area of work within this proposal, the principles of the MRA can be applied to the entire Upper Salmon. This statement of work includes numerous individual projects that address the limiting factors identified in this region.  

Pole Creek Habitat Complexity Project: Pole Creek is a tributary to the Salmon River located within the headwaters sub-basin of the Upper Salmon River Watershed. At the point of confluence, discharge from Pole Creek approximately doubles the flow in the Salmon River. Pole Creek historically supported Chinook,Steelhead and Bull Trout at all life stages. The creek is currently designated Critical Habitat for Chinook salmon and steelhead, and Essential Fish Habitat for Chinook salmon. The Pole Creek Irrigation Diversion and Instream Flow project was a multi-year, multi-agency project that took place in 2014 through 2016. The project goal was to facilitate a restored hydrologic cycle within Pole Creek with near-natural peak and base flows. During the late-summer irrigation period, this project reduced the trend from 75 percent of flows being removed from Pole Creek to 75 percent of flows remaining within Pole Creek.  Long-term agreements were developed with landowners and the Idaho Water Board to secure and maintain at least 15 cubic feet per second (cfs) in-stream and ensure resiliency and sustainability of the system. CSWCD installed infrastructure to accommodate smaller screen sizes and facilitate water savings of approximately 14 cfs on this “source switch” project. The completion of the Pole Creek Project included a conversion from hydropower to electric power for the sprinkler irrigation system, which resulted in an immediate reduction of 6 cfs that would no longer be withdrawn from Pole Creek. This was tested for several years prior to the project with a gas generator at the hydro plant.

Re-configuring the previous irrigation systems was the next step in reducing irrigation withdrawals from Pole Creek. Two wells were drilled to supplement surface water with groundwater to provide additional instream flows during the late season. As a result, an additional 8 cfs will not be withdrawn from the creek. The outcome for this project resulted in a total of at least 19 cfs that will remain in Pole Creek. This is a considerable flow that extends down the lower 4.5 miles of Pole Creek and 8 miles of the main Salmon River. Pole Creek is one of the major tributaries to the Salmon River and would naturally contribute the majority of the flow at the confluence of Pole Creek to the Salmon River during a typical summer day.

This project showcased the cooperation and collaboration that leveraged additional components toward the restoration of this 4.5-mile stretch of Pole Creek.  2023 Proposed Instream Habitat Complexity Project: The Pole Creek project plan is intended to increase the hydraulic connectivity, structural diversity, and habitat complexity of Pole Creek. It is important to build upon the successful results of the existing Pole Creek project, since the resulting increase in flows will encourage adult spawners to move up the creek. The new strategy includes releasing smolts and adults at the County Line Bridge, and possibly adults at the Pole Creek Bridge.  This project will improve Chinook, steelhead, and bull trout spawning and rearing habitats in Pole Creek. The availability of quality spawning and rearing habitat in Pole Creek has been significantly diminished from decades of irrigation and ranching practices. The current limiting factors in Pole Creek includes lack of woody riparian vegetation, in-stream complexity, and presence of micro habitats, as well as high velocity refuge.

CSWCD seeks to improve aquatic habitat in the lower 1.8-mile reach of Pole Creek from the confluence of the Salmon River to the ranch road crossing of Pole Creek. The primary goals of the habitat improvement efforts are to increase habitat availability and complexity. These goals will be achieved by reconnecting abandoned meanders, restoring natural stream processes by establishing woody riparian vegetation for cover and bank stabilization, and increasing channel complexity using habitat structures. The Pole Creek instream restoration project would immediately improve juvenile rearing and overwintering habitat by increasing the minimum wetted channel braidedness by a minimum of 1.5 times the current amount. The project would aim to increase the channel unit frequency and fish cover by 200 percent by 3 years post-treatment. Eighty percent designs have been submitted to BPA for HIP review. Cultural field surveys have been completed.  The original ranking by the Upper Salmon Basin Watershed Project for Pole Creek to provide additional flows in Pole Creek was a 75. The 2022 Ranking for Pole Creek, which is the work currently proposed, was 83 (high). The Idaho Water Transaction Board currently holds a transaction agreement with the landowners for in-stream flow because of the project implemented through the Custer SWCD and others between 2014 and 2016. Funds expended on this agreement since 2017 total $695,982.00. The flow information related to the project can be provided upon request.

Road Creek Culvert Replacement: Custer SWCD proposes to address a passage barrier on Road Creek, a tributary to the East Fork of the Salmon River. According to the BLM in 2004, three Road Creek culverts were assessed as impediments to fish passage based on excessive slope and perched outlet. Road culverts, which impeded fish passage on BLM property, have been reduced in Road Creek since 2006; 2 culverts in upper Road Creek below the spring-sourced headwaters were replaced, in 2008 and 2012. Two were replaced after the 2017 high water. The county Road Culvert was replaced with BPA and PCSRF in 2022. Once the county culvert was removed and replaced by a bridge, this culvert became a target during high flows and in danger of washing out. This is the last culvert barrier on lower Road Creek.

According to the 2017 NOAA Fisheries Recovery plan (Sec. 6.3.30 P.298) in the East Fork Salmon River watershed, road culverts create several partial and complete barriers to steelhead passage on Road Creek. According to the NOAA plan, where natural revegetation is not feasible due to physical or management constraints such as structures or roads, structural stabilization of eroding banks should occur. The plan identifies Road Creek as a priority area for culvert replacement, stabilization of eroding banks, and restoring riparian processes by planting woody vegetation (especially willow). Streamside trees and shrubs provide local erosion resistance on the channel boundary (IRA 2021).

Removal of this culvert/fish barrier on Road Creek would provide 6 miles of habitat upstream of the culvert. By removing the 3-ft diameter round (not squash) culvert and installing a bridge to provide access over a small private access road on Road Creek, the project will reconnect the lower reach of Road Creek to the mainstem of the East Fork. This culvert is a passage barrier during high flow for Chinook Salmon. The project will improve passage within the channel to address upstream and downstream movement for all life stages. In the past seven years, this lower culvert has also been overtopped causing additional overland flooding and increasing sediment in the East Fork. The goal of this project is to re-establish fish passage for Chinook salmon and Steelhead in Road Creek, and to reduce sediment inputs into the spawning areas in lower Road Creek and the East Fork. The objective is to provide access to 6 miles of spawning habitat for salmonids in the lower reach of Road Creek near the confluence of East Fork. The lower 1.18 mile does not experience limited flow due to a spring influence into Road Creek.  Landowners have observed what they believe to be Chinook Salmon spawning in the lower reach of Road Creek above the confluence of the East Fork.

Road Creek Fisheries:
Chinook Salmon (Onchorhyncus tshawytscha) life stages present. BLM has documented adults utilizing the lower reach of Road Creek. Adults are using the mainstem of the East Fork River adjacent to the project area for holding and in later summer for spawning.
Chinook Salmon within the project area:  Summer Parr: Winter Pre-smolt; Spring smolt.
Steelhead (Onchorhynchus mykiss) life stage within the project area: Possible Spring spawning; Year around Juvenile rearing.
Bull Trout (Salvelinus confluentus) life stages below the project area: Populations of Bull Trout Site 7-Road Creek; Adults: fluvial and resident use year around; Juveniles: fluvial and resident use year-round; No adfluvial populations.
Salvage Report during the 2022 construction of the County Bridge on Road Creek included 15 Chinook and 9 Steelhead (rainbow). The original Tech Team Ranking was a 38 for the County Road Creek culvert (medium ranking due to lack of SHIPPUS) and was increased to 43 in the 2023 Ranking (still a medium ranking for fish)

Salmon River Fence and Stock-water:
The project area is located within what has been call the 12-Mile Reach of the Salmon River near Challis Idaho. The area was a part of the planning effort for the Upper Salmon River Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration. This project was initiated for the purpose of enhancing salmonid habitat in the 12-mile reach.  An important objective of this project is to protect and restore the riparian shrub community. The project plan was to benefit Endangered Species Act listed steelhead and in addition to Chinook Salmon by improving a variety of vital habitat components necessary for salmonid survival in this reach of the Upper Salmon River drainage. According to NOAA Fisheries the Lower Mainstem SR Chinook population is in dire need of increased abundance and higher productivity just to reach a maintained status.
IDFG Fish Sampling Results: The river sections between Challis Bridge and Pennal Gulch boat ramps were surveyed in 2023 by IDFG. Raw count numbers were gathered by using raft-mounted electrofishing units were surveyed in an attempt to sample the entire channel. Fish sampled included Westslope Cutthroat Trout (39), Juvenile Steelhead/Rainbow Trout (9), Bull Trout (9), juvenile Chinook Salmon (20).  Other native non-target species observed were Mountain Whitefish, Northern Pikeminnow, Largescale Sucker, sculpin species, Redside Shiners, Chiselmouth, Speckled- and Longnose Dace.

Project actions prescribed to increase habitat salmon and steelhead include: 1) construct a new jack post and pole fence along approximately 1.7 miles of the main Salmon River within the 12-Mile reach. 2) install off stream livestock watering system to eliminate livestock degradation of stream banks, 3) seek engineered design for root-wad structures and other woody debris structures to address juvenile rearing habitat needs through use of logs, revetments and vegetation. The main goal for riparian condition in the 12-Mile reach is to establish riparian vegetation along critical areas to provide cover and reduce temperatures. Installation of fence and the development of off stream stock-water will assist in the development of new growth of native vegetation and protect banks in good condition as well as allowing degraded streambanks to recover. The USBWP ranked this project on 8/30/2023. The ranking was a 51 (medium ranking). However, the tech team make the following note: “The ranking sheet doesn't capture the true benefits of the project, but the TT highly supports the project” This project is being proposed for Pacific Coast Salmon Recovery Funds. Additional project sponsors include NRCS/EQIP and USFWS. Landowners will also provide cost share. The proposal includes fencing approximately 10,020 feet of the main Salmon River (approximately 0.35 miles upstream of the Stark Easement), install off stream stock-water system along with a riparian exclusion fence, NRCS water management plan, and engineering to address stream restoration of a portion of the Salmon River. Cost share from BPA will be used to help with the off-site stock water system as part of the overall plan to remove livestock watering in-stream.  The fencing, funded by PCSRF, will provide setbacks of no less that 35 feet and up to 100 feet in some areas to protect the cottonwood gallery on the property.

Morgan Creek Fence and Stock-water:
According to the Idaho Water Resource Board documentation related to the water transaction on Lower Morgan Creek, anadromous species present in Morgan Creek that will benefit includes juvenile and adult Steelhead and juvenile Chinook salmon. The main goal for riparian condition in the 12-Mile reach is to establish riparian vegetation along critical areas to provide cover and reduce temperatures. Installation of fence and the installation of off stream stock-water will assist in the development of new growth of native vegetation and protect banks in good condition as well as allowing degraded streambanks to recover.  

The overall project proposes to install approximately 6500 feet of Jack Post and Pole Fence along the lower reach of Morgan Creek to the confluence of the Salmon River including a portion of the main Salmon River. In order to complete the fencing project to allow a full riparian exclusion fence, the landowner would need an off-site stock-watering system. This would require a well, pipeline and stock-water tanks. This project is in conjunction with the Natural Resources Conservation Service EQIP program and the Custer SWCD.  

The Custer SWCD has worked with this same water users and two other water users to address a fish passable diversion modification on Morgan Creek in 2021 and the S-22 Diversion/Headgate project was completed in 2023 to address water control and to provide a minimum stream flow in Morgan Creek through the lower reach where the fencing contract was proposed  The fencing and stock-water project was noted in the 2021 Tech Team Ranking as a component of the overall project plan. “As the project is completed, we will continue to work with water users on fencing of the stream corridor, and off-stream stock water.” This project was ranked by the Upper Salmon Tech Team on November 1, 2023 and given a score of 60. The original ranking for passage was a 66, which is considered a high ranking. Notes within the ranking sheet state the Tech Team supports the project.

Warm Springs Passage Barrier Removal
The Warm Springs Culvert is located on private property near the Challis Hot Springs near Challis Idaho. This is a BPA easement property that was secured as part of the 12-Mile Reach project. The lower culvert on Warm Springs is failing. The removal of the failing culvert will provide approximately 1.3 miles of habitat in Warm Springs.  According to the NOAA Fisheries recovery plan, restoring side channels will provide high quality rearing habitat, refugia for adults and juveniles (including overwintering fish from upstream populations), and possibly even some suitable spawning habitat. Side channels provide high quality habitat due to their relatively constant water temperatures, fed by springs. The Upper Salmon Basin Watershed Program partners are working with landowners both to reestablish access to irrigated fields and to enhance the habitat by establishing and protecting riparian vegetation and by eliminating grazing along the channel banks. The Easement prohibits livestock grazing along Warm Springs Creek.  Removal of the culvert would accommodate the development of this spring channel by improving passage in the spring fed Warm Springs Creek. The area does not freeze in winter and remains a constant temperature. A continued effort to reduce Challis Irrigation Canal flows into the lower reach of warm springs could also be accomplished by modifying the water user’s irrigation system to deliver the water to an adjacent wetland instead of into Warm Springs Creek. Future plans could entail streambank plantings to increase shade and improve riparian habitat in Warm Springs. The plan within this SOW is to work with engineering consultants to determine breach plan for the old culvert and determine alternatives to move this project forward within easement requirements.

Resources
Tech Team Ranking:
Tech Team Rankings by the Upper Salmon Basin Watershed Project are completed by resource professionals from the local area using documents that were written and prepared by members of this technical team. They include Habitat Goals and Priorities and the SHIPPUSS Tables for ranking. The SHIPPUSS has not been updated since 2012 and therefore many of the priority 1 projects have been address and additional priorities have not been included. It should be noted that even though it does reduce the ranking points, it does not indicate that the projects are not worthy of ranking.

https://modelwatershed.idaho.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Habitat-Goals-and-Priorities-Charts_Updated_5-6-2009.pdf
https://modelwatershed.idaho.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/SHIPPUS-Tables-2-and-3-combined-2005-and-2012-ranks-corrected-09_27_2013.pdf

The USBWP has also developed the Integrated Resource Assessment (IRA) and the Multiple Reach Assessment Report (MRA) which can also be found on the Upper Salmon Basin Watershed Project Website and at the links below. These were developed for three specific areas: Upper Samone (above Redfish Lake), the Lemhi and the Pahsimeroi. Although these documents do not address the majority of the Upper Salmon Basin area of work for the Custer Soil and Water Conservation District, we do attempt to apply the principles identified within these documents.
https://modelwatershed.idaho.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Upper_Salmon_IRA_20190620.pd_.pdf                          
https://modelwatershed.idaho.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/UpperSalmonMRA_Final_20210510_Reduced.pdf  

https://www.westcoast.fisheries.noaa.gov/protected_species/salmon_steelhead/recovery_plan ning_and_implementation/snake_river/snake_river_sp-su_chinook_steelhead.html