DESCRIPTION
The
Columbia Conservation District (CCD) will use this grant to develop a
conceptual restoration plan for the Touchet River and its tributaries in
Columbia and Walla Walla Counties in the middle and upper Touchet River (MSA)
and Patit Creek (mSA) as identified in the SE WA Salmon Recovery Plan (2011).
These tributaries are inhabited by native ESA threatened Mid-Columbia steelhead
and Bull Trout and re-introduced spring Chinook. The planning process will
expand upon the Touchet River Geomorphic Assessment (GeoEngineers, 2011, PRISM
#09-1593) of existing information; conduct habitat surveys; identify priority
stream reaches and habitat enhancement potential; and develop prioritized conceptual
restoration plans. The guiding principle of this restoration plan will
be to focus on improving the habitat factors limiting all salmonid life-cycle
stages. To meet this goal, we will work closely with the Snake River Salmon
Recovery Board, Regional Technical Team, co-managers WDFW/CTUIR, WWCCD, BPA,
landowners and other partners at all stages of the project to ensure high
priority salmonid limiting factors and restoration actions are identified. This
project is identified in the Snake River Salmon Recovery Plan and regional work
plan in WRIA 32 Assessment and Planning Restoration; deliverables will serve as
the basis for future restoration project development in both the MSA and mSA.
The Columbia Conservation District (CCD) used this grant to develop a conceptual restoration plan for the Touchet River and tributaries in Columbia and Walla Walla Counties. This project encompasses the upper and middle Touchet River major spawning area (MSA) and Patit Creek minor spawning are (mSA) as identified in the SE WA Salmon Recovery Plan (2011). These tributaries are inhabited by native Endangered Species Act threatened Mid-Columbia steelhead and Bull Tout and re-introduced spring Chinook Salmon. The conceptual plan was expanded by using existing information from the Touchet River Geomophic Assessment (GeoEngineers, 2011), conducted habitat surveys, identified priority stream reaches and habitat enhancement potential, and developed prioritized conceptual restoration plans. The guiding principles for this restoration plan were focused on improving the habitat factors limiting salmonid production and survival. This was accomlpished by working closely with the Snake River Salmon Recovery Board, Regional Techincal Team, co-managers, Walla Walla Conservation District, Bonneville Power Administration, landowners, and other partners through all stages of the project which ensured high priority salmonid limiting factors and restoration actions were identified. The project is identified in the Snake River Salmon Recovery Plan and regional work plan in WRIA 32 Assessment and Planning Restoration. Deliverables serve as a basis for future restoration project development in both the MSA and mSA.