BONNEVILLE POWER ADMINISTRATION

Fact Sheet July 2015 BPA partners with Idaho to secure more than 4,600 acres to benefit fish Habitat conservation – PURPOSE: The Bonneville Power Administration is partially funding the purchase of a conservation public notice easement that would permanently protect nearly DATE: July 2015 10 miles of in-stream and riparian habitat near the town of Leadore in Lemhi County, Idaho. LOCATION: Leadore, Lemhi County, Idaho (see map on page 4) This acquisition will partially mitigate the impacts to salmon and steelhead from the construction, ACRES: 4,682 (nearly 10 miles of in-stream and inundation and continued operation of federal riparian habitat along the mainstem of the Lemhi River) hydroelectric dams in the Columbia River and Snake

© ILONA MCCARTY OPEN VIEW PHOTOGRAPHY the elimination of a ditch on the Lemhi River and participation in a 72-hour high flow event during which water withdrawals will be curtailed to mimic or enhance channel forming and maintaining events.

When combined with similar efforts on neighboring conservation easements on the Lemhi River, these actions will result in 100 cubic feet per second flowing through more than 25 miles of main river and tributary habitat. These flushing flows will help increase egg and smolt survival over time as gravels are consistently washed clean for successive brood years.

SPECIES BENEFITED: Snake River spring/summer Headwaters of the Lemhi River at the confluence of Texas and chinook, steelhead Eighteen Mile creeks. Leadore Land Partners Ranch, 2012 TYPES OF LAND: In-stream and riparian

River basins. The conservation of habitat is one TYPE OF ACTION: BPA is working with the Idaho component of a broader, comprehensive strategy to Office of Species Conservation and the Lemhi Regional improve conditions for fish at all stages of their life in Land Trust to negotiate a conservation easement on the river. 4,682 acres owned by the Leadore Land Partners. In exchange for its financial contribution, BPA will receive The location of the conservation easement covers a conservation easement that will prevent habitat important spawning habitat for Snake River conversion and secure rights to restore and maintain spring/summer chinook salmon and steelhead. fish habitat. This easement will also help preserve gains made for in-stream flow, tributary reconnection, riparian LAND MANAGEMENT: The Lemhi Regional Land improvement and in-stream habitat rehabilitation Trust will work with the landowner to develop a habitat in the Lemhi River and the following tributaries: management plan within eight months, which will be Big Springs Creek, Canyon Creek, Hawley Creek, available for public review and input. These plans are Eighteen mile Creek, Texas Creek and Big designed to protect and enhance the habitat for the Timber Creek. benefit of fish and wildlife. Activities that may damage habitat, such as logging or new building construction, The property is located at an ideal elevation to buffer are generally prohibited on the easement unless warming effects anticipated through climate change. specified otherwise. BPA reviews the plan for best At nearly 6,000 feet, the habitat protection and management practices to protect the habitat, as well restoration, as well as water management enabled as for consistency with the terms and conditions of the by this easement, will provide cold water refugia to conservation easement. Once accepted by BPA some these important fish populations into the future. elements of the plan may be funded through our Fish For example, this easement will permanently protect and Wildlife Program. groundwater springs that are the source of Big Springs PARTNERS: Leadore Land Partners, Idaho Office of Creek, which hosts a major rainbow-steelhead trout Species Conservation, Lemhi Regional Land Trust spawning ground (over 500 redds in 2014). The landowner has agreed to maintain a minimum in-stream For more information flow of 15 cubic feet per second in order to preserve Joe De Herrera at 503-230-3442 or [email protected]. water in the creek year round. The landowner will You may also call toll free at 800-622-4519. further improve flow through other actions, such as

2 Osprey fledgling photo taken on Leadore Land Partners Ranch.

The property protected by Upper Lemhi River conservation easement meanders peacefully in Leadore, Idaho.

© ILONA MCCARTY OPEN VIEW PHOTOGRAPHY

The confluence of the Lemhi River and Big Springs Creek.

© ILONA MCCARTY OPEN VIEW PHOTOGRAPHY

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Upper Lemhi River Conservation Easement

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BONNEVILLE POWER ADMINISTRATION DOE/BP-4707 • July 2015