Little Springs Creek (LSC) Pond Restoration

Project Narrative

This project is part of a tributary reconnection plan developed by the Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG) to provide access to the LSC watershed for all species and life stages of fish in the Lemhi River Sub-basin. The goal of this project was to stabilize unnaturally high stream temperatures in Little Springs Creek (LSC) and provide new spawning and rearing habitat. The LSC is a spring-fed Lemhi River tributary near Leadore, Idaho which provides rearing and spawning habitat for ESA-listed Chinook salmon and steelhead.IDFG began completing steps necessary for implementing the project in 2008. This included drafting a biological assessment for ESA consultation, completing cultural resource compliance, permitting, coordinating with engineers on the project design, developing bid packets, conducting project bid meetings, and hiring contractors. For final construction, two phases were planned for this project. Phase 1 included construction of the spring channel and associated floodplain that was designed to direct most of the flow away from the pond and to Lemhi Little Springs Creek. Phase 2 includes dredging of the pond to make it deeper and installation of an outlet structure that withdraws cool water from near the bottom of the pond.Phase 1 construction was completed in September 2010. As planned, a new 2970 feet sinuous spring channel with a functional floodplain was excavated, stream banks were created using sod, willow clumps were transplanted in certain locations, the existing spring channel was narrowed into a more meandering pattern, and a control structure was installed to direct all flow into the new channel. In late October 2010, all stream banks and disturbed areas were hydroseeded with native grass mixture.Phase 2, originally planned for 2011, will not occur under this contract due to water right issues with the ranch that is currently preventing project managers from securing appropriate construction permits.As stated previously, Phase 2 (excavation of the pond) will not occur under this contract. The ranch does not currently have a legal water right for this pond, which is preventing the Idaho Department of Water Resources (IDWR) from permitting this activity under Section 404, through the Joint Aquatic Resources Permit Application process. IDWR, in turn, is not granting any new water rights in the Lemhi River sub-basin because they are currently in discussions with other State of Idaho and Federal agencies on how to proceed with processing new water right applications while considering local public interests. Thus, this phase is being postponed until appropriate construction permit can be secured. Future funding will likely be pursued to complete Phase 2 when these issues are resolved.Juvenile Chinook salmon and steehead will benefit because the spawning rearing habitat will be increased. In addition the migratory corridor created between the spring and LSC will allow fish to access the pond for additional rearing habitat and finally additional spawning and rearing habitat will become available below the pond once the warm water influence created by the pond is eliminated and LSC stream temperatures are stabilized.