The Clearwater River is 2,351 square miles (1,504,643 acres) and is the largest section of river in Nez Perce County. It bisects the Northern portion of Nez Perce County and is the outlet for many of the smaller streams and rivers. Please click around the tabs to the left to learn about the rest of the watershed. Conservation work on the Clearwater River and its tributaries supports the continued health of popular fisheries and public drinking water. The mouth of the Clearwater is at the confluence of the Snake River right at the Washington/Idaho border near Lewiston.

Fishing the Clearwater is one of the most popular ecotourism activities in this region. Both trophy and subsistence fishing are available and 2025-2027 IDFG fishing rules allow the catch/catch and release of: Bass (Largemouth and Smallmouth), Brook Trout, Bull Trout, Kokanee, Salmon (ocean-run), Steelhead (ocean-run), Sturgeon, Tiger Muskie, other species of trout, Walleye, and Whitefish. Look at fishing rules here:
https://idfg.idaho.gov/ifwis/fishingplanner/water/1170397464258

The Clearwater is also home to ESA listed Snake River Basin Steelhead Trout, Snake River Fall Run Chinook Salmon, and Snake River Sockeye Salmon. The Nez Perce Conservation District has many projects related to restoring habitat for ESA listed species. Vegetative plantings, fish passage barrier removal, and BDA installations are just a few types of ESA species protection carried out by the district in tributaries to the Clearwater.

The City of Lewiston pumps a large portion of their drinking water from an intake on the Clearwater. Water is pumped and treated before being distributed. Protecting this source through best management practices is crucial to the health and safety of Lewiston citizens.

In 2003 the Nez Perce Conservation District contributed to a “Clearwater Subbasin Plan,” written by Ecovista, the Nez Perce Tribe Wildlife Division, and Washington State University Center for Environmental Education. Produced by the Northwest Power and Conservation Council and prepared for Nez Perce Tribe Watersheds Division Idaho Soil Conservation Commission which is available at this link:

https://www.nwcouncil.org/subbasin-plans/clearwater-subbasin-plan/

Chandler, Clint. (2013) Lower Clearwater River Subbasin Salmonid Distribution & Relative Abundance Monitoring. Nez Perce Tribe Department of Fisheries Resources Management Watershed Division.
Full study available Here.

Other References:

Idaho Department of Environmental Quality. (2025, October 27). Clearwater River Subbasin..https://www.deq.idaho.gov/water-quality/surface-water/total-maximum-daily-loads/clearwater-river-subbasin/

Idaho Governor’s Office of Species Conservation. (2025, February 12). The Clearwater Focus Program. Species Conservation. https://species.idaho.gov/programs/clearwater-focus-program/