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Lower Boise River Wetlands Restoration

Project

Sponsor: Pioneer Irrigation DistrictPresenter: Scott L. Campbell

Legal Counsel for PioneerJanuary 16, 2002

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Overview Watershed description Rationale and significance to regional

program Project description Project benefits

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The Boise-Payette-Weiser Subbasins total 8,800 square miles (mi2)

Lands within these subbasins are under intensive land use practices

The Lower Boise River is a 64-mile stretch that flows from Lucky Peak Dam above Boise, Idaho, to the Snake River below Parma, Idaho

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Boise 1936

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Interior Columbia Basin Ecosystem Management Project (ICBEMP) assessment concluded that historic development of the ICRB over the last 150 years has greatly altered ecological processes to the detriment of many native species of fish and wildlife (ICBEMP 2000)

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Among many findings of relevance to the Boise-PayetteWeiser Subbasins, the assessment concluded that: Aquatic diversity and resilience are dependent on

the maintenance of complex habitats and networks of those habitats at multiple spatial scales

Conserving the remaining watershed and habitats that have a high value for aquatic species is key to maintaining system integrity

Restoring or maintaining the integrity of river corridors bordered by private lands will be particularly important

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Water quality investigations concluded that the Lower Boise River is a water quality impaired river, under guidelines from the Federal Clean Water Act

Between concerns for water quality improvements, and a desire for holistic restoration of the lower Boise watershed, this proposal has been developed to construct a wetlands restoration project to meet all of these needs

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Mason Creek, a tributary to the Lower Boise River, has been evaluated as a priority site for water quality and habitat improvement. This proposal will address the development, construction, and maintenance of seven wetlands (cells) to improve water quality, restore wetland habitat, and create new wildlife habitat.

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High priority water quality-limited High priority water quality-limited due to nutrients, temperature,due to nutrients, temperature,sediment, pathogens, and D.O.sediment, pathogens, and D.O.

Low priority water Low priority water quality-limited due to quality-limited due to sediments, D.O., sediments, D.O., oil and greaseoil and grease

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