Beyeler Ranch, Upper Lemhi Enhancement Project (Phase I and Phase II)

Salmonid Habitat Restoration and Acquisition

Instream Habitat Riparian Habitat
Project ID015 19 SA
Recovery DomainsSnake River
Start Date03/01/2020
End Date06/30/2022
Year2019
StatusCompleted
Last Edited05/08/2024
 
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Description    


The Beyeler Ranch Upper Lemhi Habitat Enhancement Project improved habitat for juvenile spring Chinook salmon and summer steelhead in the mainstem upper Lemhi River and three spring channel tributaries to the Lemhi River. Trout Unlimited, the Upper Salmon Basin Watershed Program, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, Bonneville Power Administration and Pacific Coast Salmon Recovery Funds worked together to improved habitat along 0.6 miles of the Lemhi River and 0.5 miles of spring channels. The project improved instream habitat complexity by constructing narrower channels, installing instream wood and willows weaves (found under “other engineered structures’ in metrics), and building floodplain benches and islands. Willow plantings and plant protection from wildlife and cattle exclosure fencing have set this reach up for long term riparian growth and natural stream function. Project actions included creation/connection to off-channel habitat, creation of floodplain habitat, excavated pools, installation of instream wood structures, streambank stabilization, riparian planting and fencing.



This project was originally scheduled to have four phases, with funding for phases 1 & 2 in this contract. The landowner decided to postpone phases 3 and 4, and scale back on phases 1 &2. Due to the reduction of the project scale, the total length of stream treated was reduced from 1.43 mi proposed to 1.1 mi actual. Meanders were not re-activated, nor was channel bed restored. Off-stream channel created was reduced from the 0.23 mile proposed to 0.1 mi, the number of instream structures installed was decreased from 154 to 143, and consequently pools expected to be created through channel structure placement was reduced from 35 to 20. Riparian metrics were likewise reduced from 2.4 miles/2.8 acres proposed to 1.3 mi/1.5 ac planted. An amendment to decrease PCSRF funds and extend was completed in December 2021.

Project Benefit    


Additional channel length with slower water, access to floodplain, woody instream habitat, and overhanging riparian habitat are some of the key benefits to juvenile salmonids that will be realized by the project. Increased channel length will provide additional habitat area, decrease channel slope, and decrease instream velocity. Channel narrowing will increase channel depth for increased vertical (bank) habitat, decreased solar input, and increased fish cover. Woody habitat will create complex assemblages to provide feeding areas, cover, and velocity refuge during the summer and concealment habitat during the winter for juvenile salmonids. Woody instream habitat will also provide substrate scour and sorting which will benefit adults during migration, staging, and spawning.



Willow planting and protection will be conducted in areas where channel migration is occurring at an unnaturally high rate due to historic willow removal actions. In these areas, excessive channel migration, facilitated by willow removal, has been the mechanism for formation of overly wide channels that cut off meanders, thus becoming wider, shallower, and steeper, with higher water velocities and reduced habitat complexity. Willow planting and protection in these areas will ultimately reverse these trends.

Accomplishments

Metric Completed Originally
Proposed
Instream Habitat
  Stream Miles Treated 1.10 1.60
Riparian Habitat
  Stream Miles Treated 2.30 2.43
  Acres Treated 1.5 2.8

Funding Details

SourceFunds
PCSRF$498,271
Other$374,595
Report Total:$872,867


Project Map



Worksites

WS 1    


  • Worksite Identifier: WS 1
  • Start Date: 09/01/2020
  • End Date: 11/30/2022
Area Description
Beyeler Ranch Leadore

Location Information

  • Basin: Salmon (170602)
  • Subbasin: Lemhi (17060204)
  • Watershed: Upper Lemhi River (1706020405)
  • Subwatershed: Jakes Canyon-Lemhi River (170602040503)
  • State: Idaho
  • Recovery Domain: Snake River
  • Latitude: 44.691406
  • Longitude: -113.366283

ESU

  • Snake River Basin Steelhead DPS
  • Snake River Spring/Summer-run Chinook Salmon ESU

Map

Photos

Metrics

Metrics
  • C.0 Salmonid Habitat Restoration and AcquisitionY (Y/N)
    •      . . C.0.a Habitat restoration and acquisition funding 872,867.00
    •      . . C.0.b Length of stream treated/protected 1.10
    •      . . C.0.c
      Project identified in a Plan or Watershed Assessment
      NMFS. 2017. ESA Recovery Plan for Snake River Spring/Summer Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha)& Snake River Basin Steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss).
    •      . . 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 498,271.00
      •      . . . . C.4.b Total length of instream habitat treated 1.10
      •      . . . . 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 1.10
        •      . . . . . . C.4.c.4 Miles of off-channel stream created through channel reconfiguration and connectivity .10
        •      . . . . . . C.4.c.5 Acres of off-channel or floodplain connected through channel reconfiguration and connectivity 1.1
        •      . . . . . . C.4.c.6 Instream pools created/added through channel reconfiguration and connectivity 15
      •      . . . . 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 1.10
        •      . . . . . . C.4.d.5 Pools expected to be created through channel structure placement 20
        •      . . . . . . C.4.d.6 Yards of average stream-width at mid-point of channel structure placement project (Yards)
        •      . . . . . . C.4.d.7 Number of structures placed in channel 143
      •      . . . . C.4.e.1 Streambank stabilization Y (Y/N)
        •      . . . . . . C.4.e.2 Material Used For Streambank Stabilization (LOV)
        •      . . . . . . C.4.e.3 Miles of streambank stabilized 1.10
      •      . . C.5 Riparian Habitat ProjectY (Y/N)
        •      . . . . C.5.a Riparian Habitat Funding 374,596.00
        •      . . . . C.5.b.1 Total riparian miles streambank treated 2.30
        •      . . . . C.5.b.2 Total Riparian Acres Treated 1.5
        •      . . . . C.5.c.1 Riparian plantingY (Y/N)
          •      . . . . . . C.5.c.2
            Species of plants planted in riparian
            Salix geyeriana, S. boothii, S. exigua, S. drummondiana, S. Lucida, and other native plant species
          •      . . . . . . C.5.c.3 Acres planted in riparian 1.5
          •      . . . . . . C.5.c.4 Miles of streambank treated with riparian planting 1.30
        •      . . . . C.5.d.1 FencingY (Y/N)
          •      . . . . . . C.5.d.2 Miles of fence along stream .50
          •      . . . . . . C.5.d.3 Acres of riparian area protected by fencing .6