Elk Meadows Trail Relocation and Habitat Restoration - NEPA

Trout Unlimited (TU) will administer and subcontract a portion of NEPA analysis required by the Sawtooth National Recreation Area (SNRA) for the Elk Meadows Trail Relocation and Meadow Restoration Project. The overall purpose of the Elk Meadows Project is to re-locate a single-track motorized trail that currently results in negative impacts to Elk Creek and improve habitat for juvenile salmon and steelhead in Elk Creek through low-tech, process-based restoration. Elk Creek is a tributary to Valley Creek in the Upper Salmon River Basin.



The project is located on public lands administered by the SNRA. The work being proposed in this application includes assistance to the SNRA in completing the NEPA required prior to implementation of the project through subcontracting portions of the NEPA to an environmental consultant. The need for this work relates to the SNRAs current and near-term

capacity limitations. Outcomes of this work will include Alternatives Analysis, Environmental Impacts Review, Draft Decision Notice, and pertinent reports thereunder. Notwithstanding the SNRAs capacity limitations, the Elk Meadows Project is a highly

desirable project due to the collaborative nature of and common objectives shared by the SNRA, Trout Unlimited, Idaho Office of Species Conservation, and Idaho Parks and Recreation.

The goal of the Elk Meadows Trail Relocation and Meadow Restoration Project NEPA is to complete the analysis required to implement actions that will restore and protect salmonid habitat in Elk Creek. Benefits to salmonid habitat include a reduction in bank erosion, channel over-widening, and channel evulsion. Improvements will include hyporheic connectivity and channel complexity. The completion of NEPA analysis for the project actions is the first step in realizing the projects benefits.