Steptoe Creek Instream Habitat Rehabilitation

The Palouse Conservation District (PCD) used this grant to implement instream restoration work in Steptoe Creek, located in Whitman County, WA. PCD installed instream wood complexes to increase fish habitat complexity and improve pool habitat for juvenile and adult wild steelhead. The sponsor was able to expand the original project area to .8 miles giving them the opportunity to install 135 Post Assisted Logs Structures (PALS) in a reach recently made accessible by a completed barrier correction project just downstream of the project area. PALS are a cost-effective way to install instream structure without damaging the existing riparian habitat and leaving a small footprint. The project, located in a minor spawning area, addresses an imminent threat as identified in the Salmon Recovery Plan for Southeast WA and the regional work plan. The completed restoration project improves spawning habitat beyond what currently exists in the system and also increase the impact of other project funds previously spent to remove the downstream passage barrier and thus broaden the recovery benefits of efforts to restore steelhead to Steptoe Creek.

The goal of this project was to improve instream habitat for steelhead in the lower Snake River basin. This was accomplished by installing post assisted log structures in Steptoe Creek.