Upper Joseph Creek

Elders and Plants
The Nez Perce Circle of Elders tours the project area in 2001.

 

During the fall of 2000, more than 70 people, including county commissioners and representatives from the US Forest Service, Wallowa Resources, the Nez Perce tribe, several state agencies and the local Natural Resource Advisory Council (NRAC) met to find ways we could work together to address natural resource issues. The goal was to decide where and how we should take on restoration and land stewardship projects. After much discussion, we choose the Upper Joseph Watershed.

Range crew
Members of the rangeland assessment crew set up a study plot.

 

The Upper Joseph Watershed is approximately 174,000 acres, made up of 45% federal and USFS land and 55% private land. Wallowa Resources and the NRAC are leading the project. But what makes it exciting is how private landowners, who own some of the headwaters, got involved. With all of us working together, we are restoring watershed health across many boundaries, improving conditions for wildlife, livestock and native vegetation. Our final report will tell us where to go from here. Read the final report...

Billy
In fall of 2005, a local contractor will replace the culvert at Billy Creek with a bridge and reconstruct the original stream channel, restoring season-long access for juvenile steelhead to over 9 miles of habitat.