ABSTRACT
Asotin Creek, located in the southeastern corner of Washington State, is similar in many ways to other salmon-bearing streams in the lower Snake River system. The watershed has been significantly affected by human activities and catastrophic natural events, such as floods and droughts. It supports only remnant salmon and trout populations compared to earlier years and will require protection and restoration of its fish habitat and riparian areas in order to increase its salmonid productivity. The Asotin Creek Model Watershed Plan was the first plan in the state of Washington to be concerned specifically with habitat protection and restoration for salmon and trout and, therefore, is a useful model for salmon recovery efforts elsewhere. The planning process was guided by a plan of work developed jointly by a Landowner Steering Committee (local landowners) and a Technical Advisory Committee (local volunteers and agency representatives). Trust, credibility, commitment, and active communication between the two committees were key to the successful conclusion of the planning process. Much of the information presented herein was abstracted from the April 1995 final report, the Asotin Creek Model Watershed Plan (LSC 1995).
