February 2013

This project is located in Nez Perce County, Idaho along Cottonwood Creek Road. The project site is within 150 feet of Cottonwood Creek, an important steelhead spawning and rearing stream.

Steelhead habitat in this area is limited by excessive sediment. In addition, road associated erosion has a high delivery rate to the stream. Nez Perce County modified a segment of road along Cottonwood Creek. The road modification was completed as part of an effort to relocate the road away from the stream. Construction was completed the winter of 2012.

In order to protect both the steelhead habitat and provide for transportation safety, Nez Perce County and the Nez Perce Soil and Water Conservation District teamed together, to stabilize the road bank through hydroseeding methods.

Using a mixture of native grass seed and paper based mulch to establish adequate cover on the road bank resulted in an estimated rate of 99 tons of soil per bank mile per year.

Funding for materials was provided through a watershed project funded by the Office of Species Conservation’s Snake River Basin Adjudication Program funded the materials and part of the labor.

Coordinated by: Nez Perce County & Nez Perce Soil & Water Conservation District
Project Location: Cottonwood Creek, Idaho
Problem: Excessive sediment distributed to Cottonwood Creek.
Goal: Protect steelhead habitat
Funding: Office of Species Conservation's Snake River Adjudication Program