Sulphur Creek Riparian Restoration

The Sulphur Creek restoration began in October of 2012 and was completed by July of 2015. By the end of February, 2013 the survey work and a draft design had been completed. By July, 2013, the final design and all environmental compliance was completed.

Approximately 1.5 miles of stream were treated through the installation of 24 instream structures consisting of anchored and un-anchored logs. A pool was excavated at the site of each log structure for a total of 24 pools (manually created). No meanders were constructed during this project.

In addition 0.1 miles of streambank was sloped back to connect the riparian area/streambank to the floodplain reconnecting/creating 0.5 acres of floodplain.

Though not originally proposed, stabilization of the streambanks was completed because streambanks were failing due to previous heavy trampling from livestock and wildlife, resulting in sediment input into the stream. Approximately 1.5 miles of streambank and riparian area was planted with willow clumps and cottonwood trees.

As originally proposed a road crossing culvert and an irrigation diversion were removed. A deviation to the project was the discovery of an old, non-functioning concrete diversion. The non- functioning concrete diversion would be a fish passage barrier, so it was removed.

A total of 2.0 miles of access for fish was gained through the removal of all three passage barriers: culvert removal = .25 miles, irrigation removal = 1.5 miles and the non-functioning diversion = .25.

A total of 4 miles and 4 acres of riparian area were planted (2 miles and 2 acres on each side of the stream) with containerized plants: Coyote willow, Booth willow, Geyer willow and Black Cottonwood.

Four miles of streambank (approximately 4 acres) was protected from livestock grazing other than fencing by the management practices to eliminate grazing from the area.

In addition, though not originally proposed, approximately 0.4 miles of jack fence was installed along an unfenced section of the property to protect the streambanks from cattle that were herded along the road adjacent to the stream to other locations. These were not necessarily the landowner’s cattle. If the fence was not installed then those cattle could and more than likely would get into the riparian area and caused damage to the stream and streambanks.

After an inspection in March and June of 2015 it was discovered that deer and or elk had been rubbing the planted trees with their antlers. So individual plant fence enclosures were built around the trees to promote the growth of the cottonwood and willows.

In addition to the compliance engineering and design, implementation, pre and post treatment monitoring, ongoing monitoring will occur to evaluate the instream structures for effectiveness and photo points for riparian restoration progression. Periodic electrofishing surveys will also be conducted throughout the reach.

The elimination of the migration barriers, increased instream channel complexity, and protection of almost two miles of stream will significantly improve habitat conditions for Chinook salmon juvenile rearing because the project area is located in the Pahsimeroi River basin within the primary salmon production area. As rearing conditions improve, the number of juveniles surviving in the Pahsimeroi to presmolt and smolt stages is expected to increase. Steelhead and other stream resident/fluvial salmonids will also similarly benefit.