Stream and Meadow Restoration

Latah SWCD works to restore wetland systems and riparian zones.

Many wetlands in Latah County are degraded. The state of these systems has caused lack of water retention, limited fish passage, erosion, and many other issues that need to be addressed. Our goal is to focus on the root causes of degradation and reestablish processes that create and sustain river and floodplain ecosystems.

Restoring Wetland and Riparian Systems

Why Wetland Restoration?

Many meadows in the Potlatch watershed have a straightened channel which causes a quick exit of water downstream. These conditions are due to past land use changes and activities such as railroad logging, beaver trapping, and other agricultural uses.

Because of these changes, meadows have limited water throughout the year, lack habitat complexity, have high water temperatures and limited fish passageways.

UNHEALTHY MEADOW

HEALTHY MEADOW

Activation of the floodplain increases infiltration, groundwater recharge, and percolation

Complex, sinuous channel, slows water flow and attracts wildlife

A high water table supports vegetation and cool late season base flows.

Straight channels causes fast flow and erosion. Does not retain water.

Frequent inundation allows sediment deposition.

Ways We Restore Wetlands

Project Highlight

Reconnecting the Floodplain

Many meadows in the Potlatch watershed have an incised channel which exits water quickly downstream. Identifying historical channel scars and encouraging water back into these complex, sinuous pathways allow meadows to retain water for longer.

Reshaping bank sides, strategic slash and wood placement, BDAs, and sometimes construction using heavy machinery are methods we use to reconnect the floodplain.

Riverscapes Restoration Design Manual

Low Tech Restoration

We use process based techniques which include the use of beaver dam analogs (BDAs), post assisted log structures (PALs), and the addition of large wood within the stream. This is a way for us to emulate beaver dams that slow water velocity and encourage the creek to access its floodplain more often and during high flow events.

Utah State University Low-Tech Process Based Restoration of Riverscapes is a great resource to learn more about these methods.

Project Highlight

Exclosures

The use of exclosure fencing is a method we use to protect streambanks and plant communities from wildlife browsing and livestock. This passive restoration technique can help land rebound on its own.

LSWCD Revegetation Strategies

Revegetation

We have extensive revegetation strategies. We seed grasses and forbs, plant containerized plants, salvage sod, and add other native plant materials to establish plant communities on disturbed ground. These strategies prevent erosion, provide future shade, and add habitat complexity.

Learn More about PLT

Conservation Easements

We provide technical assistance by developing land management plans, land assessment and support landowners preserve their land.

We partner with the Palouse Land Trust who work with landowners to create conservation agreements.

Learn More about Fisheries

Steelhead Habitat Restoration

Our goal is to protect and restore habitat in the Potlatch River watershed and address the many limiting factors that affect steelhead populations, which are now a threatened species. Meadow systems are essential steelhead habitat.

Restoring Function to Riparian and Wetland Systems

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