Natural Propagation and Habitat Improvement Idaho: Lolo Creek and Upper Lochsa, Clearwater National Forest.

Abstract

In 1983, the Clearwater National Forest and the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) entered into a contractual agreement to improve anadromous fish habitat in selected tributaries of the Cleat-water River Basin. This agreement was drawn under the auspices of the Northwest Power Act of 1980 and the Columbia River Basin Fish and Wildlife Program (section 700). The Program was completed in 1990 and this document constitutes the 'Final Report' that details all project activities, costs, accomplishments, and responses. The Program was funded by BPA with a budget of $425,679 and consisted of 13 projects with 93% of the funding applied 70 the ground'. During this period, the Forest Service contributed a total of $255,000 additional dollars to the Program on a cost-share basis. The overall goal of the Program was to enhance spawning, rearing, and riparian habitats of Lolo Creek and major tributaries of the Lochsa River so that their production systems could reach full capability and help speed the recovery of salmon and steelhead within the basin. In Lofo Creek, we modified six major barriers to upstream passage and accessed a total of 70.0 km of mainstem and tributary habitats for salmon and steelhead. In the Lochsa, we treated 22 major barriers, and provided 118.2 km of mainstem and tributary habitats for anadromous fish. In terms of enhancement, 250,000m2 of rearing habitat and 34.4 ha of riparian habitat were improved in the Lolo Creek system. For the tributaries of the Lochsa, we improved 277,OOOnV of rearing and 6,500m2 of spawning habitats for salmon and steelhead. Overall, our objective attainment level for the Program averaged 205%. We were able to exceed our objective levels because of the relatively low unit costs. The state of Idaho evaluated some of the projects of this Program. They concluded that barrier removals or modiiications have had the greatest (potential) benefit in terms of parr produced. The Clearwater Forest evaluated other instream improvement projects within the Lochsa River system and statistically detected significantly higher parr densities of steelhead in enhanced over control sites in Pete King, Squaw, Papoose, and East Fork Papoose Creeks over a period of 3-5 years. A similar response for chinook parr was observed in Squaw Creek. Differences in salmonid parr densities were observed in summer and winter rearing habitats in Squaw and Papoose Creeks. We believe that habitat enhancement is one of many management tools that is important to the rearing of wild and natural stocks of salmon and steelhead in Idaho. It could make the difference between extinction and marginal existence in some local populations.

The Failure of Existing Plans to Protect Salmon Habitat in the Clearwater National Forest in Idaho

“…Sediment yield, primarily from logging road construction, and delivery to the fish habitat are the primary impacts analysed in these specific case histories. Other factors limiting salmonid production within these watersheds are sub-optimal temperatures, loss of riparian shade and potential large woody debris, low pool frequency and low habitat diversity (Rich et al, 1992;Espinosa and Lee, 1991;and CNF Phase I Report, 1992). Sediment and habitat data were provided by the CNF.…”

“…The Lolo watershed has a range in elevation of 1597 metres (m) at its headwater sources near Hemlock Butte to 396 m at its confluence with the mainstem Clearwater River. The stream displays a wide amplitude in its seasonal flow regime ranging from an average of 14 cubic metres per second (m 3 /s) during spring runoff to an average of 0·7 m 3 /s during late summer flow (Espinosa and Lee, 1991).…”

“…Despite the heavy stocking, escapements of adult chinook and densities of pre-smolt salmon remain at critically low levels (Espinosa and Lee, 1991). In the past few years, adult escapement to the stream has probably ranged from 50 to 75 fish (Murphy, pers.…”

“…In 1974, streambed coring of salmon spawning habitat was initiated in Lolo Creek and continued annually to 1983. From 1983 to the present day, other sediment and fish habitat variables have been monitored (Espinosa and Lee, 1991). By the late 1970s, feedback information from the monitoring program was starting to influence decision-makers.…”

“…In 1983, the fish and riparian habitats of Lolo Creek were subjected to extensive rehabilitation efforts funded by the Columbia Basin Fish and Wildlife Program (Espinosa and Lee, 1991). After 1983, the substrate monitoring program was dropped because of scheduling and budgetary constraints.…”