In Attendance –
Linda Davis, IDWR
Sandra Thiel, IDWR
Leigh Bailey, Payette National Forest
Ervin Cowley, BLM
Steve Garcia, USGS

Via Phone Conference –
Valdon Hancock, Sawtooth NF (afternoon)

NRIS, in cooperation with NRCS in Bozeman, and Region 1 of the USFS, is pleased to announce the availability of a public review portal for draft 6th code (subwatershed) delineations in Montana. This is the final phase of a multi-year project to complete the USGS/NRCS standard delineation for subwatersheds, more commonly known as 6th code hydrologic units. The public review phase (and subsequent changes, if any) is the final step before submission of the delineations to NRCS for verification. NRIS is conducting the review on behalf of the USFS and NRCS. The review will be conducted in phases, most likely by USGS 3 codes (Basins). There are 17 of these in Montana, making up about 100 4th code units. Each unit will be available for review for from 6-10 weeks each, depending on size. We are starting in NE Montana, with basin 100600 (Missouri Poplar) which is comprised of seven 4th codes. We will generally be working east to west for region 10 (Missouri Basin). Within a week or so, we will load and launch the review for the first westside third code, 170102 (Pend Oreille). This is a large 3rd code (thirteen 4th codes). This will be followed on the westside by the only other 3rd code in the Columbia Basin, 170101 (Kootenai). The review portal is structured to allow query and review by 4th code. NRIS has prepared a website describing the whole process, that is available at: http://nris.state.mt.us/nsdi/watershed/6threview.html.

Montana currently has a review period open until September 30^th for the following hucs that affect Idaho: Lower Clark Fork, Middle Clark Fork and Bitterroot. The Lower Clark Fork data steward for Idaho is Rick Patten. The lines Montana has submitted differ substantially from the lines submitted by Rick Patten and those will need to be looked at. The Middle Clark Fork huc is on the Montana side and affects the following Idaho hucs that fall along the Idaho/Montana border: South Fork Coeur d’Alene, St. Joe, Upper North Fork Clearwater, and Lochsa. The Bitterroot huc on the Montana side affects the following Idaho hucs that fall along the Idaho/Montana border: Lochsa, Lower Selway, Upper Selway, Middle Salmon-Chamberlain, and Middle Salmon Panther. The latter two hucs, Middle Clark Fork and Bitterroot hucs will only affect Idaho to the 4^th field boundary, mostly along the continental divide.

Huc 17050123 North Fork Payette –Two 6^th field name changes were fixed, and the Big Creek confluence was corrected. The huc was reviewed and draft approved.

Huc 16010202 Middle Bear – Steve Garcia reviewed this huc with the group. There was discrepancy between linework previously sent for review and the linework brought to the meeting with updates. Steve left a CD with the most-current data, and Genna Ashley will review this data and make sure the changes are all incorporated. This huc will be re-reviewed in the near future.

Huc 16010201 Bear Lake – Steve Garcia reviewed this huc with the group. There was discrepancy between linework previously sent for review and the linework brought to the meeting with updates. Steve left a CD with the most-current data, and Genna Ashley will review this data and make sure the changes are all incorporated. This huc will be re-reviewed in the near future.

Huc 17060209 Lower Salmon – Leigh Bailey reviewed this huc with the group. This huc is shared by the Nez Perce National Forest (Nick Gerhardt). Leigh reviewed her changes with the group and identified some labeling errors that needed to be changed; Upper Slate Creek will be changed to 01, Upper Little Slate Creek will be changed to 02, Lower Little Slate Creek will be changed to 03, and Lower Slate Creek will be changed to 04. Genna Ashley will make these changes and send a copy to Leigh Bailey and Nick Gerhardt. This huc will be considered draft-approved after the numbering changes have been made. Genna will also incorporate the huc into the master watershed coverage.

Huc 17050124 Weiser - Leigh Bailey reviewed this huc with the group. There are two separate 6^th fields within different 5^th fields with the same name. The group determined that this would be acceptable (Beaver Creek). Leigh will break out another 6^th field at Thousand Springs in the Weiser River-Banner Creek 6^th. This huc will be re-reviewed during the November TWG meeting.

Idaho/Montana Review Lines – Lower Clark Fork 17010213 – The TWG group looked at the differences in linework submitted by Rick Patten (Idaho data steward), and Montana NRIS. Montana currently has a review period open until September 30^th on this huc. There are significant differences and the TWG group made the following recommendations:

The numbering scheme is different from what Idaho is using. Idaho is using the uppermost MAIN stem as 01, and then counting downstream.

The 5^th field Lightening Creek (MT Lightening Creek Headwaters) needs to be changed. Because Lightening Creek has 2 pour points to the Clark Fork River, the 5^th field boundary line must be brought to the point of divergence, which would be at the trestle.

There are 8 sub-sized 6^th field hucs that would affect Idaho – Rattle Creek, Wellington Creek, Johnson Creek, Middle Lighting Creek, Porcupine Creek, Mosquito Creek, Gold Creek, and Lower Lighting Creek-Cascade Creek, all under the required 10,000-acre limit.

The fourth field boundary line on the west side of the Spring Creek 6^th field, within the Lightening Creek 5^th, and going south to the Clark Fork River needs to be adjusted to exclude a portion of the hydrography that is flowing west into the Pend Oreille Lake huc.

The TWG recommends splitting the IPNF 5^th field Lower Clark Fork blw Cabinet Gorge into three 6^th fields the following way: Twin Creek or Twin Creek/Dry Creek (02), and From either the Dam or Blue Creek to Lightening Creek confluence (01), and from Lightening Creek to the pour point of the subbasin into Lake Pend Oreille (03).

The Idaho TWG would recommend using the 5^th field delineations outlined by Rick Patten and the IPNF (Lightening Creek and Lower Clark Fork blw Cabinet Gorge) as an alternative to the Montana 5^th field delineations (Lightening Creek Headwaters and Clark Fork River-Lake Pend Oreille). The TWG acknowledges that either 5^th field inlet boundary line would work on the Lower Clark Fork blw Cabinet Gorge 5^th, either at the dam or at Blue Creek. If the IPNF method is used, then the line needs to be brought down to the pour point in the Cabinet Gorge Reservoir, because reservoir rules would apply here.

Camas – Valdon Hancock joined via NetMeeting. Valdon Hancock reviewed the draft concept lines that Genna Ashley delineated. The following changes will be made:

                    The Cow Creek 6^th field huc needs to be brought back to the mouth of Camas Creek.

                    Rename 5^th field Malad River-Camas Creek to Camas Creek Headwaters.

                    Rename Negro Creek 6^th to Camas Creek-Camas Prairie.

                    Rename Corral Creek-Camas Creek to Camas Creek-Corral Creek.

Delineate Corral Creek at a pure 6^th field. This will involve some checking through ‘braided’ stream segments.

Bring the 6^th field huc line for 170402200202 (6^th) to Chimney Creek confluence and then across to the south.

Find the mouth of Soldier Creek and delineate the 6^th field huc boundary of Lower Soldier Creek to that.

Fix the southern boundary line of the 6^th field Middle Soldier Creek so that it does not cross any hydro.

Check to see if a new 6^th field can be broken out at Mill Canyon Creek, and put any leftover remnant area into the Elk Creek 6^th.

                    Check to see if Elk Creek could be it’s own 6^th field also.

Check to see where Big Beaver and Little Beaver Creeks come together if they could be their own 6^th field. If not, move the 6^th field division between Upper and Lower Willow Creek to Cherry Creek.

                    Rename Poison Creek to Camas Creek-Poison Creek

                    This huc will be put on the November agenda for a continuing review.

Huc 17010306 Hangman – This huc was deferred until a later date for a final review

There is still much confusion regarding the huc numbering protocol. Idaho is numbering from the Main stem and continuing downstream, and in some cases the highest number is not the outflow huc. The TWG would like to get clarification regarding this procedure to make sure our numbering will pass the certification process. Some neighboring states are numbering differently and we would like to be consistent within the standards.

Erv Cowley would like to be on the November agenda for the Bruneau, Snake River Succor and Jordan hucs. These should all be final reviewed and not require much time.

Erv Cowley stated that there would be some significant changes to the CJ Strike huc, 17050101. This huc had been previously draft-approved for concept lines.

Genna Ashley will assemble all current linework and attributes for the Bear hucs and bring them back for a final review.

Genna Ashley will change the 6^th field numbering as identified above for the Lower Salmon huc and incorporate these draft lines and changed numbers into the master watershed coverage.

Leigh Bailey will continue to work on the Weiser huc and bring it back for the November TWG meeting, date TBA.

The TWG recommendations to Montana will be written and submitted to Rick Patten, then on to Montana with the proposed changes.

Genna Ashley will make the identified changes for the Camas huc and bring it back for a continuing review in November.

Linda Davis, Genna Ashley and Sandra Thiel will look at the changes made for the Hangman huc and either recommend draft approval or suggest additional changes.

Friday, October 17^th, 9:00 a.m. (note earlier time), at IDWR, Upstairs Conference Room A/B. We will be reviewing the Idaho Panhandle National Forest hucs. Contact Genna Ashley for directions and/or NetMeeting connection information

***Subject to change before meeting***

The meeting concluded at approximately 5:00 p.m., MST.