To improve watershed health across three sites to enhance over 10,000 feet of stream for juvenile steelhead habitat

The Nez Perce Soil and Water Conservation District received a Project Grant award of $604,078 from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation under the WaterSMART (Sustain and Manage America's Resources for Tomorrow) program (CFDA 15.507) on June 24, 2025, with a completion deadline of September 30, 2027. The grant funds comprehensive watershed health improvements across three creek sites in Idaho designed to enhance over 10,000 feet of stream habitat for juvenile steelhead. Deliverables include installation of approximately 108 small wood structures (beaver dam analogs) across Mill Creek, Sweetwater Creek, and Mission Creek; replacement of one culvert to address fish passage barriers; completion of 129 acres of forest thinning in Sweetwater Creek headwaters and adjacent Mission Creek private land; and collection of baseline habitat quality data to support ongoing steelhead population recovery efforts.

The project directly supports ecosystem restoration and water resource sustainability objectives within the WaterSMART program's focus on nature-based solutions and habitat restoration. Intended beneficiaries include watershed improvement professionals, fish habitat specialists, and fishery conservation managers throughout the region. The initiative addresses critical environmental challenges by reducing water temperatures, creating fish refugia, and enhancing stream complexity to support ESA-listed steelhead populations across the Clearwater subbasin watersheds in northern Idaho.

Activities

The NEZ perce soil and water conservation district has three sites that will improve watershed health. Major components of the project will include:site 1: install approximately 21 small wood structures (e.g., beaver DAM analogs) in mill creeksite 2: install approximately 25 small wood structures, replace a culvert, complete 48 acres of forest thinning in the headwaters of sweetwater creeksite 3: install approximately 62 small wood structures in mission creek and complete 81 acres of forest thinning on adjacent private land.expected deliverables or outcomes: collecting baseline habitat quality data, improve watershed health, habitat improvements for juvenile steelhead habitat, beavers, and forest thinning.

Intended beneficiaries

Anyone dealing with watershed improvement, fish habitat, and fishery conservation management.subrecipient activities (if known or specified at time of award): NA