Bar-G Muddy Springs Creek Habitat Phase I

Trout Unlimited will administer and subcontract construction of Phase 1 of the Bar-G Muddy Springs Habitat Project, in the first phase to increase habitat capacity for juvenile salmon and steelhead on Muddy Springs Creek, a tributary to the Pahsimeroi River. Current habitat conditions include lack of riparian vegetation, limited instream complexity, and over-widened stream segments that resulted from historic overgrazing.



Phase 1 project actions entail the enclosure and delivery of Warm Springs stock water right 73-12026 to off-stream stock-water troughs and closure of a livestock water-gap on Muddy Springs Creek. Outcomes of this work include a) securing landowner support for habitat restoration work, b) enforceable management of water utilization on a source of water to Muddy Springs Creek and b) elimination of heavy livestock impacts to approximately 100 feet of stream.



Project Actions include a) installation of sub-surface concrete vault and closed pipe at the Warm Springs source, b) installation of poly-pipe to deliver not more than 0.04 cfs of water to six stock-water troughs at three upland locations, c) installation of an Idaho Department of Water Resources approved measuring device at Point of Diversion, and d) installation of jack fencing at current Muddy Springs water-gap.

The subsequent phases of habitat work will directly increase rearing capacity for juvenile salmon and steelhead. The achievement of those objectives hinges on development of off-stream stock-water sites. Providing off-stream stock-water also eliminates heavy livestock impacts at the location of a water-gap on Muddy Springs Creek. These actions balance landowner livestock management objectives with habitat improvement objectives of subsequent project phases. The installation of a fully enclosed water delivery system with an accurate measuring device will ensure legal water utilization. This, in turn, assures predictable water contributions of Warm Springs to Muddy Springs Creek, where fish will benefit from consistent base-flows.