Snake River Watershed WRAPS based projects

This project primarily focuses on riparian restoration (permanent vegetative buffer enhancements and plantings) on 6.5 miles (both sides) of targeted tributaries, ditches, and wetlands within five sub - watershed areas identified in the Snake River Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategy (WRAPS) Report. These plantings will consist of native perennials, trees, and shrubs where practical. In addition to the riparian plantings, this project will include fence exclusions for cattle and heavy use protections at cattle crossings in streams and ditches. The project will restore 10% of the riparian areas identified on the resource assessment and inventory maps developed for the WRAPS Report. A total of 41 Best Management Practices (BMPs) will be implemented, reducing phosphorus loading in the watershed by an estimated 1,230 pounds per year, which is a 6% reduction toward the goal of 19,050 pounds per year. The soil loss reductions from these BMPs will result in an estimated 123 tons per year, which is a 67% reduction from the reduction goal of 184 tons per year of stream bank erosion. These reductions of phosphorus and sediment in the Snake River Watershed and the St. Croix River Basin are consistent with the St. Croix Basin Total Maximum Daily Load goal of 20% reduction of phosphorus by the year 2020.