1. Lawyer Creek Steelhead Trout Habitat Improvement Project presented by: Lewis Soil Conservation District

2. Project Goal: Improve steelhead trout habitat in Lawyer Creek by implementing best management practices to upland agricultural lands.

3. Lawyer Creek Watershed Clearwater River Watershed

4. Lower Clearwater Assessment Unit Clearwater River Lawyer Creek

7. Watershed Specifics 137,400 acres 90% privately owned 80% within Nez Perce Reservation 60% agricultural land use

8. Watershed Specifics narrow watershed approximately 35 miles long 3 to 4 miles stream/mile drainage area tributaries tend to be straight & steep

9. PROBLEMS Limiting factors to steelhead habitat within Lawyer Creek are associated with climate and land use patterns, including: –excess sediment delivery –flashy storm events –low sustained summer base flows

10. PROBLEMS Listed on State §303(d) list for: –habitat alteration –flow alteration –dissolved oxygen –bacteria –ammonia –nutrients

11. PROBLEMS Water moves quicker through the watershed today due to: –change of vegetation in uplands –alteration/removal of ground cover in uplands

12. PROBLEMS Less water is retained or stored in the watershed for base flow after runoff events Higher peak flows impact stream channel by widening and scouring channels, moving large substrate downstream

13. PROBLEMS Surface soil erosion is the dominant type of erosion from most cultivated lands in the watershed Source of sediment and water quality problems Sediment contributes to increased stream temperature and reduced stream productivity

14. SOLUTIONS To protect, enhance and/or restore fish habitat, best management practices should be developed and implemented on agricultural lands.

15. SOLUTIONS BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES Dryland Agriculture

16. SOLUTIONS Best Management Practices –Combination of practices that effectively and practicably prevent or reduce the amount of sediment delivery to receiving streams –Techniques that will begin restoration and protection of aquatic habitat impacted by land management

17. SOLUTIONS Best Management Practices –Control and reduce erosion and subsequent sedimentation: conservation tillage (no-till) sediment basins gully plugs culvert outlets grade stabilization grassed waterways permanent vegetation

18. SOLUTIONS Best Management Practices –Promote upland water storage: conservation tillage (no-till) ponds sediment basins riparian habitat improvements and protection

19. Best Management Practices

22. No-Till (Conservation Tillage)

23. Gully Erosion Control

24. Upland Water Storage

25. Lawyer Creek Project Predominant land use is cropland Cropland and grazing activities take place on each side of and adjacent to Lawyer Creek Soils have a high erosivity rating and low permeability rating Drainageway lengths are short within each of the subwatersheds (higher potential for immediate sediment delivery)

26. Upper Lawyer Creek Craigmont

27. Implement BMPs on agricultural uplands and adjacent riparian areas Survey baseline instream and riparian habitat conditions in Lawyer Creek Monitor water quality parameters Coordinate monitoring efforts with DEQ and Nez Perce Tribe Lawyer Creek Project

28. Lawyer Creek Subwatershed Steelhead Trout Habitat Improvement Project Sponsored by: Lewis Soil Conservation District