Status: Complete

Location:

The Sherlock Creek stream restoration site is in the Idaho Panhandle National Forests in the headwaters of the St. Joe River near the Idaho-Montana divide, southwest of Superior, Montana.

Background:

Sherlock Creek is home to westslope cutthroat trout, bull trout, and other aquatic life. Placer mining damaged more than 20 acres of stream and floodplain habitats in the Sherlock Creek watershed. The trustees funded the project as part of the 2007 Interim Restoration Plan.

Restoration Completed:

Sherlock Creek restoration efforts focused on rebuilding and enhancing more than one mile of channelized stream and tributary routes. Total floodplain reconstruction was needed in many areas to improve the site’s long-term hydrologic stability. In 2007, 86 pieces of derelict equipment and machinery parts, including multiple bulldozers and a large dredge, were removed from the floodplain. Additionally, nearly 100 tons of contaminated (hydrocarbon) soils and trash were removed from the site. 12 acres of floodplain area was restored with logs and root wads and approximately 4,000 feet of new stream channel was constructed. This included a significant amount of vegetation planting. The old stream channel underwent recontouring and revegetation. These efforts had positive results:

created a stable stream channel and floodplain

reduced sediment entering the stream channel

established a native vegetation community

created pond habitat for wetlands-dependent species

improved instream fish habitat

Benefits:

The restoration work at this site improved riparian resources, surface waters, and fish habitat for species including westslope cutthroat trout and bull trout.

Contact:

Idaho Panhandle National Forests
St. Joe Ranger District
222 South 7th St., Suite #1
St. Maries, ID 83861-1847
208-245-2531
*Attention Fisheries Biologist

Sponsor:

USDA Forest Service

Partners:

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

National Fish and Wildlife Foundation

University of Idaho

North Idaho Fly Casters