Lemhi Basin Habitat Improvement-PCSRF

The following projects were addressed during this contract: 1) Amonson Upper Lemhi River Side Channels 0.30 miles - design for additional lateral fish habitat, side channels, and a more active floodplain. some environmental permitting was done as well. Total 2) Thor Upper Lemhi Channels 1.75 miles – design to restore flow to an important Chinook salmon production area in the upper Lemhi River and also developed a functional side channel with large woody debris structures. Construction oversight was provided for this. 3) Bohannon Creek #3 Diversion Flow Improvement 1.1 miles - design to deliver flow through a previously dewatered stream segment of lower Bohannon Creek. Water rights transfer application was prepared for this project. 4) Eagle Valley Lower Lemhi River 2.7 miles - design to restore natural function to a reach of the Lemhi river by creating pools and other slow water habitats, developing side channels and other lateral habitats, expanding the floodplain, and restoring riparian zones. Work included construction oversight and environmental permitting. 5) Stokes Lemhi River Bank 0.3 miles – design to stabilize an eroding streambank and develop instream habitat complexity for fish along a 500 ft segment of the lower Lemhi River. Work also included environmental permitting and construction oversight.

The condition of spawning and rearing habitat for ESA listed Chinook salmon and steelhead throughout the Lemhi River sub-basin will improve. Efforts will continue to be directed at priority tributaries to provide salmon access to historically important, high quality spawning and rearing habitat. Juvenile salmon produced in the Lemhi River will be able to access cooler water for rearing during summer, adult salmon will access good spawning habitat, and flow will be enhanced in the mainstem to improve habitat quality in existing production areas. Salmon and steelhead produced in the Lemhi will benefit directly from projects implemented within the current production areas, such as creating lateral habitats (side channels) complex river channels with good quality substrate necessary for spawning and protected and enhanced riparian zones. Concurrently, all these actions are expected to increase productivity, expand distribution, and improve genetic integrity of these stocks.