Watershed Management > Watershed Management Updates by WRIA > Middle Snake

Middle Snake - WRIA 35

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Grants awarded through June 2010

$1,290,000

Projected grants July 2010 - June 2011

$100,000

Background

The Middle Snake watershed planning group approved their detailed implementation plan September 2008. The detailed implementation plan emphasizes actions that:

• Coordinate with fish habitat improvement strategies in the Snake River Salmon Recovery Plan.
• Call for groundwater investigations.
• Improve water quality and water conservation.
• Seek legislative changes to revise relinquishment and riparian stockwater law.

The planning group also completed the first phase of hydrogeology work to estimate impacts of future groundwater withdrawals in the growth-prone Asotin and Alpowa creek basins. Several projects were implemented in their first year of Phase 4, including:

• An irrigation efficiency project.
• A streambed assessment on the Tucannon River.
•  Instream habitat assessments on six streams.

Instream flow status

The planning group completed stream flow recommendations and included them in their watershed plan for the Tucannon River and Asotin Creek. The group is currently gathering flow and habitat data on several other streams in the watershed. They expect Ecology and the Department of Fish and Wildlife to collaborate in completing a final watershed-wide stream management recommendation for rule-making next year.

Planning Documents

• Detailed Implementation Plan
• Phase 1 Hydrogeology Report

Outside links, publications, studies, data

• WRIA 35

Please send additions or corrections to Chris Anderson, (360) 407-6634.