Project Sponsor:
Kootenai Shoshone Soil and Water Conservation District
Purpose
This project restores 6,000 feet of riparian vegetation along two separate sections of Wolf Lodge Creek to reduce lateral streambank erosion and reestablish habitat for Westslope Cutthroat Trout. The Kootenai Shoshone Soil and Water Conservation District is working with a private landowner and contractor to replace a rusted culvert currently located on a tributary to lower Wolf Lodge Creek and to stabilize adjacent streambanks. Willow planting started in 2023 and was completed in fall 2024.
This project continues nine years of restoration efforts in the Wolf Lodge watershed. More information is provided at Restoration Partnership.
Funding
This project received $158,337 from Governor Little’s Leading Idaho initiative.
Current Status
Work on one of two sections along Wolf Lodge Creek is complete. Willow planting took place in fall 2023 and monitoring will continue throughout the project. Fencing to keep livestock from entering a section of the creek was installed.
Culvert work and additional willow planting took place in fall 2024. Monitoring of plantings will take place in spring 2025.
Outcome
This project is expected to reduce phosphorus loads to Coeur d’Alene Lake by approximately 94 pounds annually.
