This project is a part of the Okanogan Subbasin Habitat Implementation Program (OSHIP). The Colville Confederated Tribes (CCT) in cooperation with the Okanogan Valley Land Councit (OVLC) established a conservation easement on 5 acres of a 7.65 acre parcel that borders the lower one-quarter mile of Wildhorse Spring Creek. After the easement was established, CCT began working on conservation projects.

Wildhorse Spring Creek - Projects include:

Wildhorse Spring Creek Developing an Alternative Water Source - Watering of livestock can lead to major problem in small tributaries of the Okanogan River. Wildhorse Spring Creek had livestock grazing and watering within the creek causing damage to the creeks banks and increasing nutrient loading into the creeks. In Wildhorse Spring Creek we installed three hardened rock crossings for watering of horses.

Wildhorse Spring Creek Native Planting - We planted native vegetation along Wildhorse Spring Creek a tributary to the Okanogan River to stabilize the stream bank as well as define the stream channel. We used native shrubs and trees from the Colville Confederated Tribal Greenhouse to accomplish this task. The vegetation was planted streamside and the water table is very high so no watering was necessary.

Wildhorse Spring Creek Culvert Replacement -Two culverts on Wildhorse Spring Creek a tributary to the Okanogan River were deemed an impediment to flow and fish passage. We designed plans to replace these two culverts to improve flow and fish passage. We had ample funding in our budget to replace one of the culverts and determined that the other culvert which was collapsed in the stream bed would be removed in 2009 as part of a stream rehabilitation project.

Wildhorse Spring Creek Noxious Weed Treatment - We treated approximately 5 acres of Wildhorse Spring Creek a tributary to the Okanogan River for noxious weeds. This will eliminate them from the uplands and riparian area and allow our native plants to survive and reproduce better. The major species treated was Russian Knapweed.

Wildhorse Spring Creek Livestock Fencing - We installed one-quarter mile of fence on both sides of Wildhorse Spring Creek Creek to fence off livestock usage in the creek and direct the livestock to hardened rock crossings.