Morgan Property Acquisition

Project Narrative

Through the Morgan Property Acquisition project, the Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG) purchased a 58.49 acre parcel located in the middle portion of the Lemhi watershed, to expand ongoing habitat rehabilitation efforts. The property purchase, which includes 10 acres along the Lemhi River and associated floodplain, with 600 ft of river frontage, borders IDFGs Hayden Creek access property. Fish habitat rehabilitation efforts are being developed, or are in construction, upstream and downstream of the Morgan property. The purchase provides a unique opportunity to rehabilitate a larger degraded section of the Lemhi River, and expands the river bottom IDFG property to approximately 34 acres, increasing the amount of river length by more than a third, enabling IDFG to complete a 0.75 contiguous mile restored reach that will have more substantial benefits to fish and wildlife. The property purchase was coordinated by IDFG Region 7 and Headquarters personnel. Much of the due diligence related to survey, appraisal, and IDFG Bureau, Directors Office, and the Fish and Game Commission approval was completed prior to PCSRF award. Additional steps completed under this contract included presenting the project to the Lemhi County Commissioners to receive their approval. Final Fish and Game Commission approval was secured. IDFG staff proposed a fee title acquisition, and the State of Idaho and the property owners signed a Purchase and Sale agreement. The Morgan property closed on 5/19/22. All necessary documents were transferred, including funds for purchasing, resulting in transfer of ownership to IDFG. The property acquisition will create habitat rehabilitation opportunities that are expected to substantially benefit Chinook salmon and steelhead in the Lemhi watershed. It lies within the Hayden Reach, which is a river segment that occurs at the downstream end of the most important production areas for Chinook salmon in the basin. As such, some of the highest densities of juvenile salmon have documented in this reach (IDFG unpublished data). Unfortunately, habitat condition is less than optimal due to previous anthropogenic disturbance, resulting in low fish survival. When acquired, aquatic and riparian habitats will be significantly enhanced, with an expected positive response in ESA listed Chinook salmon and steelhead. Ecologically speaking, benefits to the ongoing rehabilitation efforts will be significantly enhanced by this acquisition. IDFG and collaborative habitat managers would be able to restore a much larger contiguous river segment that would extend approximately 0.75 mile. Habitat projects are being developed, or are in construction, upstream and downstream of this property. A more continuous floodplain will allow more natural ecological processes to occur, further enhancing benefits to multiple life stages of juvenile salmon and steelhead.