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Restoring Upper Lochsa: Progress & Challenges

Explore the restoration efforts in the Upper Lochsa area, including habitat restoration, road decommissioning, and culvert replacement. Learn about the partnership history with the Clearwater National Forest and future plans. Delve into current issues with private land exchange and potential solutions. Investigate the impact on aquatic and terrestrial species, and understand the significance of tribal treaty rights. Consider different approaches to land exchange, financial implications, and community development opportunities.

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Restoring Upper Lochsa: Progress & Challenges

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  1. The Upper Lochsa and Progress Toward Restoration Rebecca A. Lloyd, NPT Watershed Division

  2. Lochsa is 1 of 7 NPTProject Management Areas

  3. Characteristics of the Upper Lochsa • 346,000 acres (all land above Warm Springs) • 80% Federally Managed • 12% Privately Owned by TWJ Holdings • 40,640 acres • 19 Miles of Mainstem Habitat in Lochsa • Over 500 miles Spawning and Rearing Habitat to Anadromous and Resident Fish

  4. Aquatic Indicator Species • B-Run Steelhead (ESA listed) • Bull trout (ESA listed) • Spring Chinook • Westslope cutthroat trout (species of concern)

  5. Terrestrial Species of Concern Present in Upper Lochsa • Northern Goshawk • Western Toad • Gray Wolf • Wolverine • Bald Eagle • Harlequin Duck • Lynx • Coeur d’Alene Salamander

  6. Restoration Progress since 1997 • Importance of the habitat in the Upper Lochsa results in making it an early focus of restoration work by the Nez Perce Tribe

  7. Legacies of Logging on the Lochsa

  8. Partnership History with the Clearwater National Forest • Perfect Timing • Beginnings of NPT-Watershed Division coincided with the acceleration of the CNF-Watershed Restoration-Road Obliteration program • Implementation in Upper Lochsa and Lolo Creek in 1997 • On the Lochsa, our focus started on roads

  9. Rain on Snow Events 1995-1996 • Over 900 slides identified on the Forest • 58% of slides associated with roads • Many slides off overgrown abandoned roads

  10. Road Decommissioning Goals • Reduce risk of mass failure • Reduce erosion and sedimentation • Restore slope hydrology • Restore land to production • Eliminate unnecessary roads • Protect fisheries habitat

  11. Lochsa Road Removal • 300 miles decommissioned • Opened over 40 miles of tributary habitat by removing failing culverts

  12. Restoration Program Expands to Ridgetop to Ridgetop Approach • Barrier Culverts • Road Improvements/Upgrades • Weeds • Monitoring

  13. Goals For Culvert Replacement • Provide Passage for All Aquatic Species • Follow Stream Simulation Criteria • Reduce Risk of Road Failure and Cost of Road Maintenance

  14. Culvert Replacements

  15. Culvert Replacement Accomplishments • 13 Culvert Replacements • Returned over 24 miles of spawning and rearing habitat

  16. Weed Awareness and Incorporating Weed Treatment

  17. Accomplishments for Weed Inventory and treatment • 1000 miles Inventory on System Roads and Decommissioned Roads • Treatment of Administrative Sites in 2006 • 120 acres Prescription Grazing in 2005

  18. Accomplishments in Partnership

  19. Future Plans 2007-2009 • Northwest Power Conservation Council and BPA Funds per Year • Waw’aalamnime to ‘Imnaamatnoon: $367,843 • Crooked Fork to Colt Killed: $228,122 • Other Possible Funds • EPA, Idaho PCSRF, RAC • Roll Project Areas Together and Include Middle Lochsa • Restoration on Private Lands

  20. Now for the Bad News • All of the Remarkable Work the USFS and NPT have Completed will be Undermined if We Fail to Acquire the Private Lands

  21. Timeline for Private Lands • 1855: Nez Perce Tribe cedes these lands to Federal Government; but, reserves rights to these lands • Land Grant of 1864 • 1980: Burlington Northern segregates • 1989: Plum Creek Timber • 2003: PCTC CEO Focuses on Real Estate • 2005: PCTC Sells Lochsa to TWJ Holdings

  22. However…in Good News • The Private Land Owner does NOT want the Lochsa Lands • Lands he prefers for Legislative Exchange within the USFS are in the McCall area

  23. Current Issues with the Exchange • USFS • Identified Idaho County buy-in to exchange as the critical issue and prefer to keep the exchange within Idaho County • Concerned about Restoration Costs on Acquired Land in Lochsa and Want Some Work Prior to Exchange • Region 4 may Not Support the Exchange

  24. Current Issues with the Exchange • Idaho County Wants Revenue Replacement • Plum Creek at a high in 2002 provided $286,063 in taxes • Also want some guarantee of timber

  25. Becca’s Questions • What is the role of Idaho County in this exchange? Why does it supercede resource concerns and rights of the Nez Perce Tribe? • What will the role of Treaty Rights play in the exchange? • What are the pros and cons of a Legislative vs. Administrative Exchange?

  26. Becca’s Ideas • Results of $11 million law suit USFS vs. PCTC? Those funds would go to General Treasury…could be used for purchase of land, restoration bond, grant to the counties???? • Raise conservations funds for grant to Idaho County for education and economic development (Clearwater Economic Development Agency-CEDA)

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