The Lower Touchet River is delineated as being the river miles downstream from the confluence of Wet Stone Creek west of the town of Prescott, WA. This river reach is not designated by NOAA as a major spawning area, and has no priority designation for protection or restoration in the Snake River Salmon Recovery Plan. Limiting factors in this reach have not been identified with the exception of Imminent Threats. Imminent Threats are identified as conditions which pose a direct threat toward listed fish, including but not limited to fish passage barriers, fish screening projects, and water quality and quantity. The Walla Walla County Conservation District (WWCCD) working with the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation and the Tri-State Steelheaders have addressed all known fish passage barriers and most unscreened irrigation diversions in this reach. The retrofitting of the fish ladder at the Hofer Diversion in the Hofer Diversion Fish Passage Project has increased the number of summer steelhead returning to the middle and upper Touchet River early in the season. Steelhead reaching the upper watershed experience improving fitness and increase opportunity in the upriver fisheries. The WWCCD has also been working to improving water quality and over all river function in the lower reach by planting riparian habitat. Over the next few decades the lower river will begin to improve through the cumulative effects of health riparian habitat.
The SRSRB has supported some restoration projects within this reach but has its main focus in the upper river where projects will have the greatest impact on spawning and rearing habitat. This is planned to continue in upcoming years. The SRSRB and the SRSRB Technical Team are the guiding body directing restoration priorities and will be the group reasoning future needs in the lower river.