1. Little Canyon Creek Subwatershed Steelhead Trout Habitat Improvement Project Sponsored by: Lewis Soil Conservation District

2. Columbia Country Safe Keeping Segment November 2003

3. Project Goal Improve steelhead trout habitat in Little Canyon Creek by implementing best management practices to upland agricultural lands.

4. Little Canyon Creek Watershed Big Canyon Creek Watershed Clearwater Subbasin

5. Little Canyon Creek 100% within Nez Perce Reservation 93% privately owned 60,200 acres 68% agricultural land use

7. Problems The only remaining steelhead trout runs in the Clearwater River subbasin, with limited or no hatchery influence, occur in the lower Clearwater River tributaries

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

9. 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 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 Problems

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

11. 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 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

12. Solutions Best Management Practices –Control and reduce erosion and subsequent sedimentation: Conservation tillage and no-till Grade stabilization structures Best Management Practices –Control and reduce erosion and subsequent sedimentation: Conservation tillage and no-till Grade stabilization structures

13. Solutions Best Management Practices –Promote upland water storage: Conservation tillage No-till Best Management Practices –Promote upland water storage: Conservation tillage No-till

14. No-Till Conservation Tillage

20. Grade Stabilization Structures

23. Project Goal Improve steelhead trout habitat in Little Canyon Creek

24. Project Goal Improve steelhead trout habitat in Little Canyon Creek by implementing best management practices

25. Project Goal Improve steelhead trout habitat in Little Canyon Creek by implementing best management practices to upland agricultural lands to upland agricultural lands.

26. Since 1999 … BMPs implemented to date: 54,921 acres of no-till and conservation tillage 68 grade stabilization structures

27. Since 1999 … BMPs implemented to date: 54,921 acres of no-till and conservation tillage $321,769 68 grade stabilization structures $208,674

28. Since 1999 … BMPs implemented to date: 54,921 acres of no-till and conservation tillage $321,76954,921 tons 68 grade stabilization structures $208,67456,745 tons

29. Soil savings over the practices life expectancy totals over 111,000 Tons Soil savings over the practices life expectancy totals over 111,000 Tons

30. $530,443 $4.75 per Ton 111,000 Tons $530,443 $4.75 per Ton

31. Hypothesis Hypothesis: Erosion and sedimentation is reduced from implementation of agricultural from implementation of agricultural BMPs BMPs Reduced sedimentation improves fish habitat habitat

32. 111,000 tons Nez Perce Tribe 2003 and 2004 Fish abundance and presence Habitat Water quality Migration studies BLM, NPT, DEQ 1994 through 2004 Fish abundance and presence Habitat Water quality

33. Culvert Outlets International IECA Conference Innovative Technology Award February 2002

34. Columbia Country Safe Keeping Segment November 2003

35. Sediment delivery? Habitat improvements as a result of sediment reduction? Increase in fish productivity?

36. Little Canyon Creek Subwatershed Steelhead Trout Habitat Improvement Project Sponsored by: Lewis Soil Conservation District