Lower Pratt Creek Access and Flow Enhancement

Project Narrative

A new point of diversion(POD) pumping station was installed in Sandy Creek after the land owner successfully transferred his water right from Pratt Creek down to Sandy Creek. A new irrigation system was installed to more efficiently apply irrigation water, this included: 3 phase power and meter base installation, a pumping station with IDWR approved flow meter, and sprinkler system installed on lower Pratt Creek. The irrigation system includes 2 center pivots, 5 pod systems and 2393 feet of underground irrigation. The landowner secured EQIP funds from NRCS after the PCSRF award was granted and was used for part of the project. This funding has been identified as non-match funding. The original proposal included some stockwater installation to compensate for loss of access to the creek. The bid for the irrigation portion of the project was considerably higher than the original estimate so the stockwater installation was not paid for with PCSRF or BPA funds. A part of the original sprinkler system design was dropped prior to beginning construction, which changed the metrics from the original application. Metric C.3.c changed from 1.0 cfs to 0.41 cfs flow to remain in lower Pratt Creek for 0.2 miles and C.3.e.2 changed from 724.5 ac. ft. to 296.8 acre feet saved. This water conservation will remain in place for a minimum of 20 years, per an agreement between the Lemhi Soil and Water Conservation District and the landowner. Compliance monitoring for both engineering and project design as well as implementation monitoring was conducted onsite during project implementation. The NMFS draft Recovery Plan (2015) Indicates that reduced streamflow is the most important factor limiting abundance and productivity for both Chinook salmon and steelhead in the Lemhi River. Streamflow conditions are also affecting spatial structure within the population by eliminating access to tributary habitat. This project will address this limiting factor for both ESA-listed species: Lemhi Population of the Salmon Major Population Group of the Snake River steelhead Distinct Population Segment and Chinook salmon Evolutionarily Significant Unit.