The Tucannon River, a 208,000-acre watershed (excluding Pataha Creek) and tributary to the Snake River is home to ESA listed spring & fall chinook, steelhead & bull trout. The Touchet River a 243,000-acre watershed and tributary to the Walla Walla River is home to ESA listed steelhead and bull trout. Both watersheds are targeted for upland enhancement to benefit salmonid habitat. Sediment impacts to salmonid habitat have been identified as limiting factors in the Tucannon River Model Watershed Plan, Assessment of Salmonid Fishes/Habitat Conditions/Walla Walla Basin 1998 Annual Report, and various other assessments, annual reports, recovery plans and Draft assessments. Project objectives are to reduce agriculture sediment impacts, increase egg incubation success and juvenile salmonid survival while working cooperatively with private landowners utilizing NRCS and WCC identified Upland Best Management Practices. Primary project areas will be identified utilizing the SASSI/CREP process targeting highly erodible land draining to spawning and rearing river reaches. This project will reduce in stream sediment and complement various upland, riparian and instream habitat projects completed and planned. Project will include 1000 acres in 5 year direct seeding and implementation of 5 water/sediment control practices.
