Whiskey Creek Culvert Replacement

The Nez Perce Tribe (NPT), Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests (NPCNF), and Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) implemented a culvert replacement on Whiskey Creek and Highway 14 which had blocked or restricted aquatic organism passage to approximately 5.7 miles of upstream habitat. This project utilized funding from Bonneville Power Administration, Idaho Office of Species Conservation, and ITD, BLM, NPCNF cost share contributions. The culvert was identified as high priority for replacement through a NPT inventory in 2012 due to its reduced sized and perched outlet. The design was completed in FY18 in partnership with ITD, NPT, BLM, and NPCNF.

The undersized 6.5ft culvert was replaced with a 13ft wide culvert at stream grade that will pass the 100 year flow event. The structure includes rock weirs to hold the stream grade in place while creating habitat features for fish rest areas. Natural stream simulation was used in the design including an open bottom arch with natural substrate, streambanks within the culvert, and a low flow channel. The project was successfully completed per design specifications and will restore spring/summer Chinook, steelhead, and bull trout passage to over 5.7 miles of stream in Whiskey Creek and Maurice Creek.

This project was originally funded from the 2014 award as project 012 14 CW. Due to delays in permitting, the project was cancelled from the FY14 award and was placed under the FY17 award. The project was then scheduled for implementation in the summer of 2020. Because this was a new, developing partnership between the NPT and the BLM, the nuances and final operating and administrative details had not yet been established, and the project was postponed a year to allow time for details to be worked out. Bids came in over the high estimate and an amendment was completed to increase the PCSRF award by $13,000. Amendment 2 extended the contract to accommodate late invoices from the contractor. Despite bids coming in higher than estimated, the project was completed under budget.

This project will restore fish passage and improve riparian function for Snake River Basin Steelhead in the Whiskey Creek watershed. Removing the passage barrier at the mouth of Whiskey Creek will open up 5.7 miles of habitat.