FY07-09 proposal 200705700

Jump to Reviews and Recommendations

Section 1. Administrative

Proposal titlePotlatch River Basin Conservation Easement
Proposal ID200705700
OrganizationPotlatch Corporation
Short descriptionThis proposal is for the sale of a conservation easement covering riparian areas in the Potlatch River basin owned by Potlatch Corporation.
Information transfer
Proposal contact person or principal investigator
Contacts
ContactOrganizationEmail
Form submitter
Terry Cundy Potlatch Corp Terry.Cundy@potlatchcorp.com
All assigned contacts

Section 2. Locations

Province / subbasin: Mountain Snake / Clearwater

LatitudeLongitudeWaterbodyDescription
Potlatch River and tributaries All riparian areas adjacent to fish-bearing streams owned by Potlatch Corp

Section 3. Focal species

primary: Steelhead Snake River ESU

Section 4. Past accomplishments

YearAccomplishments

Section 5. Relationships to other projects

Funding sourceRelated IDRelated titleRelationship
Other: Potlatch Corp. [no entry] [Related Project Title left blank] This project fits in an overall effort to improve and protect stream habitat on Potlatch lands. Potlatch efforts include stream enhancement, grazing, and road improvement projects.

Section 6. Biological objectives

Biological objectivesFull descriptionAssociated subbasin planStrategy
[BO Title left blank] To keep riparian areas in a forest land use in perpetuity. Clearwater The Clearwater plan does not address the issue of land use change with respect to aquatic species, only terrestrial species.

Section 7. Work elements (coming back to this)

Work element nameWork element titleDescriptionStart dateEnd dateEst budget
Other Conservation Easement Complete a conservation easement for riparian areas on Potlatch Corporation ownership in the Potlatch River Basin. 10/1/2006 9/30/2007 $4,008,000
Biological objectives
Metrics
* # of riparian miles protected: 62.5

Section 8. Budgets

Itemized estimated budget
ItemNoteFY07FY08FY09
Other Dollars for conservation easement purchase $4,008,000 $0 $0
Totals $4,008,000 $0 $0
Total estimated FY 2007-2009 budgets
Total itemized budget: $4,008,000
Total work element budget: $4,008,000
Cost sharing
Funding source/orgItem or service providedFY 07 est value ($)FY 08 est value ($)FY 09 est value ($)Cash or in-kind?Status
Totals $0 $0 $0

Section 9. Project future

FY 2010 estimated budget: $0
FY 2011 estimated budget: $0
Comments:

Future O&M costs:

Termination date: 12/31/2006
Comments: The project terminates when conservation easement sale is closed.

Final deliverables: Deed of conservation easement.

Section 10. Narrative and other documents


Reviews and recommendations

FY07 budget FY08 budget FY09 budget Total budget Type Category Recommendation
NPCC FINAL FUNDING RECOMMENDATIONS (Oct 23, 2006) [full Council recs]
$0 $0 $0 $0 Expense ProvinceExpense Do Not Fund
NPCC DRAFT FUNDING RECOMMENDATIONS (Sep 15, 2006) [full Council recs]
$0 $0 $0 $0 ProvinceExpense

ISRP PRELIMINARY REVIEW (Jun 2, 2006)

Recommendation: Not fundable

NPCC comments: This proposal is for the sale of a conservation easement covering riparian areas in the Potlatch River basin owned by Potlatch Corporation, to protect against development. There are policy concerns here that the ISRP cannot address. The one-page proposal does not provide adequate detail for the ISRP to make a recommendation in its present form. Details are lacking on the linkage of this project to the Clearwater Subbasin Plan or other regional planning documents that would identify this action as a priority item. Similarly absent, are discussion or alternative approaches to achieve conservation buffer / riparian zone protection on the Potlatch lands. The idea seems admirable. The proposal's map is helpful. It shows the widespread, largely headwaters distribution of the riparian corridors involved. Some aspects of the proposal need elaboration. Objectives include protection of 100ft on either side from development. This protection is not as robust as it could be (200ft on either side is usually recommended). One of the action-objectives is to keep the designated acreage "in forest land use in perpetuity." Exactly what constitutes "forest land use," and how will that use affect fish and wildlife? Will large woody debris-producing trees in the riparian zone be harvested? The proposal goes on to say in next sentence that "[i]n addition, Potlatch will implement best management practices in these areas that exceed the requirements of the Idaho Forest Practices Rules." What are those best management practices?


ISRP FINAL REVIEW (Aug 31, 2006)

Recommendation: Not fundable

NPCC comments: This proposal is for the sale of a conservation easement covering riparian areas in the Potlatch River basin owned by Potlatch Corporation, to protect against development. There are policy concerns here that the ISRP cannot address. The one-page proposal does not provide adequate detail for the ISRP to make a recommendation in its present form. Details are lacking on the linkage of this project to the Clearwater Subbasin Plan or other regional planning documents that would identify this action as a priority item. Similarly absent, are discussion or alternative approaches to achieve conservation buffer / riparian zone protection on the Potlatch lands. The idea seems admirable. The proposal's map is helpful. It shows the widespread, largely headwaters distribution of the riparian corridors involved. Some aspects of the proposal need elaboration. Objectives include protection of 100ft on either side from development. This protection is not as robust as it could be (200ft on either side is usually recommended). One of the action-objectives is to keep the designated acreage "in forest land use in perpetuity." Exactly what constitutes "forest land use," and how will that use affect fish and wildlife? Will large woody debris-producing trees in the riparian zone be harvested? The proposal goes on to say in next sentence that "[i]n addition, Potlatch will implement best management practices in these areas that exceed the requirements of the Idaho Forest Practices Rules." What are those best management practices?