10/27/06 Asotin Watershed conservation recognized

Washington Ag October 27, 2006 Restoration efforts and protection of natural resources in the Asotin Watershed, like steelhead, have netted the Asotin Conservation District and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife a USDA Conservation Partnership award. Although a small tributary to the Snake River, Asotin creek's steelhead population is described as prolific due to the health of the stream. Cheryl Sonnen of the Asotin Conservation District describes some of the work willing landowners have done to make it that way. Sonnen: "A lot of landowners bring their animals down there. They feed along the creek, kind of close to home. The lower elevations are protected from the weather. Almost 100% of Asotin Creek is now fenced from livestock so there is no direct livestock access. We have installed alternative water so that they don't have to use the stream as their water source. We have planted trees through there. We have done some instream habitat work where we have done a couple of meandering reconstruction projects, taking the stream back to its original meandering channel." The Conservation Partnership awards were presented by USDA Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment Mark Rey and Congresswoman Cathy McMorris during a special ceremony in Walla Walla Thursday. I'm Bob Hoff.