Nora Creek Meadow Restoration
Salmonid Habitat Restoration and Acquisition
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017 16 CW | Snake River | 06/02/2017 | 10/31/2020 | 2016 | Completed | 05/08/2024 | |
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Description
The Nora Creek Meadow Restoration Project is located on Nora Creek, tributary to Little Bear Creek in the Potlatch watershed. The goals of the project were to restore meadow hydrology and riparian vegetation to address low summer baseflow and temperature, which are limiting factors for steelhead in the Potlatch watershed. To meet these goals, Latah SWCD removed flow from 0.64 miles of straightened and incised channel and reconstructed 0.86 miles of main (0.77 mi) and side channels (0.09 mi) in the historic alignment. Twenty-four acres of floodplain were reconnected through this project. Fifteen structures (logs fastened together and Beaver Dam Analogs (recorded as ‘other engineered structures’ in metrics)) were placed in the newly reconstructed channel to create habitat, slow flow and add channel complexity. Two of these structures (BDAs) were installed later as part of an adaptive management strategy- one to eliminate a potential head cut and one to further slow flow and trap sediment in the lower portion of the project area. Fifteen pools are expected to be created through scour. Channel diversion structures and ditch plugs were placed in the disconnected stream channel to divert the flow, prevent recapture of the flow in the incised ditch, and to create a series of wetland cells. These and three constructed persuasion channels were revegetated with sedge mats, native grass and forb seed, cuttings, and container plants. Berm removal, fill areas, wetland swale construction, riparian revegetation efforts, invasive weed control and slash placement further enhanced the habitat and stability of the project site. Post-project photo monitoring indicates that enhanced floodplain access was achieved, and that the riparian revegetation process has begun.
A contract extension for this project allowed for additional plantings through the 2020 planting season.
On January 23, 2019, Latah SWCD partnered with Alta Science and Engineering on a poster presentation at the River Restoration Northwest annual conference in Skamania, Washington. A pdf of the poster is attached to the final report.
Notes on metrics: Wetland metrics and levee removal were not included in the proposed metrics. Values for these have been included in the actual metrics to record these actions.
Project Benefit
This project will implement four of five priority actions identified in the NMFS October 2016 proposed recovery plan for the Lower Mainstem Clearwater River steelhead population of the Clearwater MPG, Snake River steelhead ESU in a priority watershed (Potlatch River). The proposed actions include the following:
1. Restore hydrologic processes to retain surface flow by reducing surface runoff from altered land surfaces, disconnecting artificial drainage systems from natural drainage systems, and modifying water uses. This will contribute to reducing stream temperature problems. 2. Restore channel-forming processes by reestablishing floodplains in incised channels, removing or setting back flood control structures, and rehabilitating stream channels that have been straightened. 3. Reestablish riparian vegetation to improve LWD recruitment and create shade for streams. 4. Reduce fine sediment delivery to streams where it is increased caused by agriculture, road drainage systems (including undersized culverts), or other artificial sources.
Accomplishments
Instream Habitat |
Stream Miles Treated |
1.50 |
1.50 |
Wetland Habitat |
Acres Created |
|
|
Acres Treated |
.1 |
.0 |
Riparian Habitat |
Stream Miles Treated |
3.00 |
3.00 |
Acres Treated |
12.7 |
12.7 |
Funding Details |
PCSRF | $31,120 |
Other | $71,980 |
In-Kind Other | $25,880 |
Report Total: | $128,980 |
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Worksites
Nora Creek
- Worksite Identifier: Nora Creek
- Start Date: 06/02/2017
- End Date: 06/30/2020
Area Description
Tributary to West Fork Little Bear Creek Potlatch Watershed
Location Information
- Basin: Clearwater (170603)
- Subbasin: Clearwater (17060306)
- Watershed: Big Bear Creek (1706030610)
- Subwatershed:
- State: Idaho
- Recovery Domain: Snake River
- Latitude: 46.763271
- Longitude: -116.701016
ESU
- Snake River Basin Steelhead DPS
Map
Photos
Metrics
Metrics
- C.0
Salmonid Habitat Restoration and AcquisitionY (Y/N)
- . . C.0.a
Habitat restoration and acquisition funding 128,980.00
- . . C.0.b
Length of stream treated/protected 1.50
- . . C.0.c
Project identified in a Plan or Watershed Assessment | |
NMFS. 2017. ESA Recovery Plan for Snake River Spring/Summer Chinook Salmon) & Snake River Steelhead Appendix C, Snake River Idaho Management Unit Plan. Portland, OR. |
- . . C.0.d.1
Project Monitoring (LOV)
- . . C.0.d.2
Monitoring Location (LOV)
- . . C.4
Instream Habitat ProjectY (Y/N)
- . . . . C.4.a
Instream Habitat Funding 29,380.00
- . . . . C.4.b
Total length of instream habitat treated 1.50
- . . . . C.4.c.1
Channel reconfiguration and connectivityY (Y/N)
- . . . . . . C.4.c.2
Type of change to channel configuration and connectivity (LOV)
- . . . . . . C.4.c.3
Miles of stream treated for channel reconfiguration and connectivity 1.50
- . . . . . . C.4.c.4
Miles of off-channel stream created through channel reconfiguration and connectivity .09
- . . . . . . C.4.c.5
Acres of off-channel or floodplain connected through channel reconfiguration and connectivity 24.0
- . . . . . . C.4.c.6
Instream pools created/added through channel reconfiguration and connectivity 0
- . . . . C.4.d.1
Channel structure placementY (Y/N)
- . . . . . . C.4.d.2
Material used for channel structure (LOV)
- . . . . . . C.4.d.3
Miles of stream treated through channel structure placement .14
- . . . . . . C.4.d.5
Pools expected to be created through channel structure placement 15
- . . . . . . C.4.d.7
Number of structures placed in channel 15
- . . C.5
Riparian Habitat ProjectY (Y/N)
- . . . . C.5.a
Riparian Habitat Funding 96,600.00
- . . . . C.5.b.1
Total riparian miles streambank treated 3.00
- . . . . C.5.b.2
Total Riparian Acres Treated 12.7
- . . . . C.5.c.1
Riparian plantingY (Y/N)
- . . . . . . C.5.c.2
Species of plants planted in riparian | |
Trees and Shrubs: Alnus incana, Amelanchier alnifolia, Cornus sericea, Crataegus douglasii, Holodiscus discolor, Physocarpus capitatus, Picea engelmannii, Pinus contorta, Populus tremuloides, Populus trichocarpa, Rosa nutkana, Rosa woodsii, Salix spp., Sambucus caerulea, Spiraea douglasii, Symphoricarpos albus. Forbs: Achillea millefolium, Eriophyllum lanatum, Gaillardia aristata, Galium boreale, Geranium viscosissimum, Helianthella uniflora, Heuchera cylindrica, Linum lewisii, Lomatium dissectum, Lomatium triternatum, Lupinus sericeus, Penstemon attenuatus, Penstemon globosus, Potentilla gracilis, Senecio integerrimus, Sidalcea oregana, Solidago canadensis, Solidago missouriensis, Symphyotrichum spathulatum, Thermopsis montana. Grasses: Agrostis exerata, Beckmannia syzigachne, Bromus carinatus, Bromus marginatus, Danthonia californica, Deschampsia cespitosa, Deschampsia elongata, Elymus glaucus, Glyceria striata, Hordeum brachycantherum. Grasslikes: Carex angustata, Carex lenticularis, Carex nebrascensis, Carex stipata, Carex utriculata, Carex vesicaria, Juncus effusus, Juncus ensifolius, Scirpus microcarpus |
- . . . . . . C.5.c.3
Acres planted in riparian 12.7
- . . . . . . C.5.c.4
Miles of streambank treated with riparian planting 3.00
- . . . . C.5.h.1
Riparian plant removal/controlY (Y/N)
- . . . . . . C.5.h.2
Species of plants treated/removed in riparian | |
Phalaris arundinacea, Potentilla recta, Hieracium aurantiacum, Hieracium caespitosum, Cynoglossum officinale, Cirsium arvense, Leucanthemum vulgare |
- . . . . . . C.5.h.3
Acres of riparian treated for plant removal/control 12.7
- . . . . . . C.5.h.4
Miles of streambank treated for riparian plant removal/control 3.00
- . . C.8
Wetland ProjectY (Y/N)
- . . . . C.8.a
Wetland funding 3,000.00
- . . . . C.8.b
Total acres of wetland area treated .1
- . . . . C.8.e.1
Wetland improvement/restorationY (Y/N)
- . . . . . . C.8.e.2
Acres of wetland treated .1
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