Lemhi Fayle Restoration

Project Narrative

The Lemhi Fayle Restoration project is located on the Lemhi River in the Leadore Land Partners Conservation Easement, which is held by Lemhi Regional Land Trust. The project goals were to improve bank, channel and riparian conditions to address shade and habitat in areas where existing channel geometry and riparian vegetation was impaired through bank stabilization, channel fill to create meanders and narrow banks, and island creation to promote in-stream habitat creation. The project addressed 1.27 miles of the Lemhi River and 8 acres of riparian area. The entire worksite was approximately 30 acres. The project created 6 instream pools and treated 0.97 miles for channel reconfiguration relocating stream segments to use existing mature riparian vegetation where feasible to create immediate increases in shade conditions and narrowing and deepening the channel. The project installed 30 instream structures, both individual logs and logs fastened together, along 0.8 mile of stream creating 12 scour pools. Riparian work was completed on both sides of the stream for a total of 2.54 miles. Native riparian plants were used to revegetate 8 riparian acres and approximately 0.29 mile of fence was built along the stream. Monitoring for the project was conducted prior to the project, during the project for instream turbidity, and post project due to the HIP III monitoring protocol for high risk projects. The project met expectations and will continue to be monitored. Project goals are to improve streambank, instream, and riparian conditions that will increase shade and instream habitat complexity where these conditions are currently impaired. Channel meanders will be added to increase stream length and slow water, instream structures will be constructed to increase complexity and to create pools for the ESA-listed Snake River spring/summer Chinook Salmon ESU, Upper Salmon River MPG and Lemhi River population, which is a Priority #1 watershed for restoration. The riparian area, which has been compromised by extreme livestock grazing will be completely restored and livestock excluded for at least three years.