Pritchard Creek Restoration Project

PRITCHARD CREEK RESTORATION PROJECT

Project Description

For decades the Pritchard Creek project area was drowned behind a small storage dam.  In the late 1980s the dam blew out, leaving behind several steep silt wall banks that continued to erode and degrade habitat and impact water quality.  The purpose of the project was to restore the Pritchard Creek stream channel as it traversed through the old reservoir bed, revegetate and protect the riparian corridor, and collaboratively reduce cattle and recreational use impacts in the project area.

The Pritchard Creek project was completed in the Fall 2003.  The project was developed, funded, and implemented in partnership with the US Forest Service (USFS). 

Project Activities

TU completed the following activities on the Pritchard Creek Restoration Project:

Livestock Impacts:  installed a new state-of-the-art solar-powered watering system that includes a holding tank and new watering trough in a suitable upland area, permanently excluding cattle from the restored project site.

Channel Reconstruction:  removed the old dam, mechanically beveled back the steep silt wall banks, and restored a more natural channel for more than a half mile in the old reservoir bed.

Revegetation:  hydroseeded  and planted whole clump willow plantings and willow and dogwood cuttings in the area next to the stream for native revegetation.

Riparian Protection:  installed a new trail limit gate preventing ATV use further up Pritchard Creek; horse, foot, and motorcycle use is permitted.  A new trail bridge was also constructed over the creek to further eliminate sedimentation into the creek.

The Pritchard Creek project’s solar watering system is an innovative, low-maintenance, and economically reasonable alternative for stock watering issues and impacts.  Trout Unlimited (TU) and USFS staff members installed the system and have worked in partnership with the permittee to ensure long-term upkeep and maintenance.  The landowner has been impressed with the versatility of the system, and the partnership has led to discussions regarding ways to expand such approaches to lessen both riparian and water use impacts on private land portions of Pritchard Creek downstream of the project area.

The restoration effort included an unexpected but productive relationship between non-traditional partners:  the USFS, TU, and local chapter of the Blue Ribbon Coalition.  Both TU and the USFS understood early in the project development process that the off-road vehicle community would need to be involved to ensure all restoration project benefits were fully realized.  The Blue Ribbon Coalition agreed to close some existing trails for some uses and committed to help keep vehicles out of the stream and riparian areas in certain sensitive sections of Pritchard Creek to reduce long-term sediment impacts and better protect trout habitat.  TU efforts to partner with the Blue Ribbon Coalition representatives was highlighted in the Idaho Falls Post Register Editorial “Cheers” section as a welcomed respite to the traditional bickering between such interests and a proactive approach to getting things done.  The Blue Ribbon Coalition also included a very favorable article regarding the collaborative effort in the December 2003, issue of Blue Ribbon Magazine.

The Pritchard Creek activities have led to greater landowner involvement in the lower portion of the stream.  We were recently approached by the landowner to discuss several proposals that could benefit the Pritchard Creek native Yellowstone cutthroat trout fishery in the lower portion of the stream immediately above the confluence with the main stem South Fork Snake River.  We are currently following up regarding ways we can continue to partner and collaborate to improve habitat in the drainage.

Partners for the Pritchard Creek Restoration Project included:

• U.S. Forest Service
• National Fish&Wildlife Foundation
• Jackson Hole One Fly Foundation
• Blue Ribbon Coalition
• Private Landowner