LOWER CLARK FORK WATERSHED GROUP

THE MISSION OF THE LOWER CLARK FORK WATERSHED GROUP (LCFWG) IS TO FACILITATE COLLABORATION AMONG WATERSHED STAKEHOLDERS AND TO COORDINATE EFFORTS TO MAINTAIN, ENHANCE AND RESTORE THE ECOLOGICAL INTEGRITY OF TRIBUTARIES TO THE LOWER CLARK FORK RIVER. OUR WORK FOCUSES PRIMARILY ON IN-STREAM AND ON-THE-GROUND RESTORATION PROJECTS THAT IMPROVE WATER QUALITY AND ENHANCE HABITAT FOR BULL TROUT AND WEST SLOPE CUTTHROAT TROUT. IN 2018, THE LCFWG HELD QUARTERLY MEETINGS FOR MEMBERS AND PARTNERS AND ACTIVELY WORKED TO COORDINATE CONTINUED EFFORTS ON ALL ONGOING WATERSHED PROJECTS. THEY ARE INVOLVED IN THE PLANNING, FUNDRAISING, COORDINATION, CONTRACTING, ADMINISTRATION AND ONGOING MONITORING OF MULTIPLE PROJECTS IN THE WATERSHED. MAJOR PROJECTS INCLUDED: - COMPLETING THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE THOMPSON RIVER WATERSHED RESTORATION PLAN, COORDINATING EFFORTS OF MULTIPLE STAKEHOLDERS TO DEVELOP AND PRIORITIZE PROJECT IDEAS TO IMPROVE WATER QUALITY (ADDRESS STREAM IMPAIRMENTS) AND ENHANCE HABITAT FOR NATIVE FISH IN THE THOMPSON RIVER DRAINAGE. - INITIATING AN UPDATE TO THE LOWER CLARK FORK TRIBUTARIES WATERSHED RESTORATION PLAN, SIMILAR TO THE ABOVE, BUT COVERING THE AREA ALONG THE CLARK FORK RIVER DOWNSTREAM OF THE THOMPSON FALLS DAM TO THE IDAHO BORDER. - BULL RIVER RE-VEGETATION: THE LCFWG COORDINATED THE COMPLETION A MULTI- PHASED EFFORT TO RE-VEGETATE AREAS ALONG THE BULL RIVER, WHICH OVER TIME WILL HELP STABILIZE STREAM BANKS AND CREATE HABITAT FOR NATIVE FISH AND WILDLIFE. -CROW CREEK CHANNEL AND FLOODPLAIN RECONSTRUCTION: THE LCFWG RAISED FUNDS AND WORKED WITH PARTNERS TO INITIATE THE DEVELOPMENT OF A DESIGN FOR A SECOND PHASE PROJECT RESTORING A SECTION OF DEGRADED CHANNEL AND FLOODPLAIN HABITAT IN CROW CREEK, A TRIBUTARY TO PROSPECT CREEK. -GRAVES CREEK PILOT HABITAT ENHANCEMENT PROJECT: THE LCFWG COORDINATED STAKEHOLDERS TO BEGIN PLANNING A PILOT PROJECT IN GRAVES CREEK, AN IMPORTANT STREAM FOR MIGRATORY BULL TROUT, AIMED AT INCREASING THE DEPOSITION OF SPAWNING GRAVEL AND ENHANCING BULL TROUT POPULATIONS IN THAT SYSTEM. -LONEMAN CREEK RIPARIAN FENCING PROJECT: WORKING WITH THE LANDOWNER AND GRAZER, THE LCFWG RAISED FUNDS TO CONSTRUCT RIPARIAN FENCING ALONG APPROXIMATELY MILE OF LONEMAN CREEK IN THE THOMPSON RIVER DRAINAGE. THIS FENCING WILL EXCLUDE CATTLE FROM THE RIPARIAN AREA INTO THE FUTURE AND ALLOW THE AREA ALONG THE STREAM TO RECOVER AND IMPROVE WATER QUALITY IN LONEMAN CREEK. - SIMS MEANDER STREAM AND RIPARIAN RESTORATION PROJECT: THE LCFWG WORKED IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE UNITED STATE FOREST SERVICE AND OTHER PARTNERS TO BEGIN FUNDRAISING FOR A MAJOR STREAM RESTORATION PROJECT ON THE VERMILION RIVER, PLANNED FOR 2020. THE LCFWG'S ROLE IN THE PROJECT WILL BE TO COORDINATE FUNDING, CONTRACTING, IMPLEMENTATION AND OUTREACH EFFORTS RELATED TO THE PROJECT.