DESCRIPTION
The Asotin Co. CD will use this grant to develop a geomorphic/watershed assessment and conceptual restoration plan for Snake River tributaries located in Asotin County including; Alpowa, Asotin, George, Tenmile and Couse Creeks which are inhabited by native ESA threatened Snake River Steelhead, Snake River spring Chinook, Columbia River bull trout and to a lesser extent Snake River fall Chinook. The assessment will evaluate existing information, conduct habitat surveys, identify priority projects and locations and develop conceptual restoration designs. The guiding principle of this assessment will be to focus on improving the habitat factors limiting salmon production and survival. To meet this goal we will work closely with the SRSRB, RTT, BPA, and other partners at all stages of the project to ensure high priority salmon projects are implemented. ACCD is currently gathering LiDAR and orthoimagery for Alpowa, George, Couse and Tenmile Creeks which will be completed and delivered in June 2015. LiDAR and orthoimagery was previously collected on Asotin Creek during the IMW process and will be analyzed during the assessment process. In addition, ACCD is currently conducting a sediment budget assessment which will be incorporated into the proposed geomorphic/watershed assessment. This project is identified in the Snake River Salmon Recovery Plan and regional work plan; deliverables will be incorporated into future restoration planning efforts for future restoration activities.
The Asotin Co Conservation District (ACCD) used this grant to complete a geomorphic watershed assessment and conceptual restoration plan for Snake River tributaries located in Asotin County, including Alpowa, Asotin, George, Tenmile and Couse Creeks. These tributaries are inhabited by native ESA threatened Snake River steelhead, Snake River spring Chinook, Columbia River Bull Trout and, to a lesser extent, Snake River fall Chinook. The assessment evaluated existing information, conducted habitat surveys, identified priority projects and locations and developed conceptual restoration plans for all reaches in Asotin County. The guiding principle of this assessment focused on improving the habitat factors limiting salmon production and survival. To meet this goal, we worked closely with the Snake R Salmon Recovery Board, Regional Technical Team, BPA, and other partners at all stages of the project. This will ensure high priority salmon projects are implemented in the future. LiDAR and orthoimagery and a sediment budget assessment completed prior to the start of this grant was incorporated into the geomorphic/watershed assessment. This project was identified in the Snake R Salmon Recovery Plan and regional work plan. The conceptual restoration plans for each reach will be incorporated into restoration planning efforts for future restoration activities and included in the habitat work schedule.