Lemhi River at Tendoy Side Channel and Conservation Easement

The project was redesigned twice, first at the request of the Upper Salmon Basin Watershed Projects Technical Team and secondly by the Idaho Office of Species Conservation. The redesigned project is reflected in the final metrics reported. Finally, the landowner renegotiated the extent of the final conservation easement from 30 acres to 5.91 acres, protecting 0.17 miles of the Lemhi River mainstem, and will run with the land in perpetuity. The conservation easement will be monitored annually by LRLT staff. At this point in time there will no grazing in the conservation easement area. That could change in the future but for now there will be no grazing.

Approximately 0.08 miles of the Lemhi River streambank was stabilized in the project area by reconstructing the bank to a 3:1 slope with two Fabric Encapsulated Soil Lifts (FESL) that also incorporated potted willow plantings. The entire area of disturbance was revegetated with a weed-free native seed mix, containerized plants, and mulched with weed-free straw. Plantings included the following: Geyer willows (Salix geyeriana), coyote willows (Salix exigua), booth willows (Salix boothii), cottonwoods (Populus fremontii), woods rose (Rosa woodsii), chokecherry (Prunus virginiana) & serviceberry (Amerlanchier).

Approximately 0.23 miles of new side channel was constructed off of the Lemhi River mainstem. Small woody debris was placed in the new side channel to increase complexity. The disturbed area was seeded with a weed-free native seed mix and mulched with weed-free straw. Sedge sod mats were staked along the wetted edge of the new side channel; species planted as part of the wetland sod installation included Nebraska sedge (Carex nebrascensis), Northwest Territory sedge (Carex utriculata) & mountain rush (Juncus articus).

Originally the engineers proposed that instream structures to create pools would be installed in the Lemhi River and the new side channel, but during the project process the engineers decided not to place structures in either the Lemhi River or the side channel to create pools.

Approximately 7.13 acres were planted in the project area along one side of 0.17 miles of the Lemhi River.

Approximately 0.21 miles of four-strand wildlife friendly wire fence with four gates was constructed along the west side of the conservation easement to protect the conservation easement from livestock grazing.

The Conservation Easement will protect the Lemhi River frontage in perpetuity. Project actions will result in the creation of pool-riffle ratios, improved bank stability in the reach, improved riparian function and connectivity in the Lemhi River floodplain which will enhance and improve habitat conditions for resident fish and ESA listed species.