In northeastern Idaho, Lolo Creek runs through steep, narrow, and inaccessible canyons until it reaches Cottonwood Flats in Clearwater County. Here it becomes a very unique body of water: for about a mile the creek widens to a series of braided streams which allow for active migration channels for spawning salmon.

The section that runs through Ken and Linda Steigers' property had been of recurring concern to them due to the influence of livestock grazing in this area. In July 2000, they enrolled the acreage in a CRP contract.

According to the CRP plan, the Steigers installed 7,480 feet of fencing to create a riparian buffer strip along the stream banks in which a wide variety of stabilizing vegetation was planted. They also developed a spring and installed pipeline to water livestock on the hilly slope above Cottonwood Flats.

By removing livestock from the stream, sediment and bacteria loadings were reduced and the edges of the braided stream sections were stabilized. As a result, the overall water quality improved, enhancing salmon spawning conditions. What a success for agriculture and wildlife alike!

Through CRP, landowners Ken and Linda Steigers have restored an important salmon spawning area of the Cottonwood Flats reach of Lolo Creek.

Excluding livestock and planting vegetation along stream banks improved water quality for salmon spawning.

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