SNAKE RIVER Tributary Protection and Enhancement FISH AND

SNAKE RIVER Tributary Protection and Enhancement

FISH AND WILDLIFE SPECIES

OBJECTIVES Develop comprehensive restoration plan for Idaho’s lower Snake River tributary habitat, in coordination with other entities. Utilize information in existing assessments. Prioritize and implement actions which protect and enhance tributary habitats. Conduct annual operation and maintenance activities on project lands. Monitor and evaluate the incremental improvement that each activity provides to overall habitat conditions and associated fish and wildlife.

Relationship of Project to Regional Programs/F&W Needs • • • Reduce water temperatures in tributaries (RPA 141). Increase tributary water flow, comply with water quality standards and watershed health (RPA 149). Protect and restore non-Federal habitat that is severely degraded (RPA 150). – Protect habitats through conservation easements, acquisitions, or other means (All-H Paper). • • • Fund long-term protection of riparian buffers in concert with existing federal programs (RPA 153). Acquire lands when opportunities arise for improved habitat protection, restoration, and connectivity, and for mitigation of lost fish and wildlife habitat (land purchases, land trusts, conservation easements, landowner cooperative agreements, exchanges (Subbasin Summary 2001). Habitat acquisitions and easements are high priority (Hells Canyon Bighorn Sheep Initiative 1997).

PRIMARY AQUATIC LIMITING FACTORS -Temperature -Sediment -Riparian alteration -Migration barriers -Low flows

Additional threats to aquatic and terrestrial communities include: -Continued intensive land use practices -Agriculture conversion of native grassland/forest communities -Altered fire frequencies -Noxious weeds

Acquisition of conservation easements or fee-titles will be one of the primary implementation tools. -Habitat investment protected in perpetuity -Addresses limiting factors

MONITORING AND EVALUATION -Pre and post water quality measurements will be in coordination with on-going efforts by county SCD’s, DEQ, and other entities. - Pre and post permanent points/plots will be established in upland riparian project sites to monitor long terms changes in vegetation composition and structure. -Project implementation will be coordinated with Idaho Natural Production Monitoring and Evaluation. -Other long-term species response information will be gathered through landbird and riparian surveys, big game surveys, etc.