TEKOA — Better fishing and other recreational opportunities may be on the horizon for Little Hangman Creek.
Last month, the Terry Hussman Account awarded a $50,000 grant to the Pine Creek Conservation for fish restoration, bank stabilization and habitat improvements.
The funds will be used to help clean up bacteria in Little Hangman Creek that make the water risky for people to swim, wade, float or fish in. Moneys will also be used to create a better forested habitat in an 8-acre segment of the watershed.
“We are working with the Spokane Conservation District on this project.” Pine Creek Conservation District Manager Casey Lowder said. "It is part of a larger steambank stabilization project funded by Spokane CD."
Little Hangman Creek follows Lovell Valley Road southwest of Plummer, Idaho, to Tekoa, where it enters Hangman Creek, which becomes Latah Creek near the U.S. Highway 195-Interstate 90 interchange. Latah Creek flows into the Spokane River near Spokane.
Specifically, the funds will pay for plants and planting along the creek, bringing a more woody vegetation to the bank and improving water flow.
Hangman Creek Watershed is known for sediment load issues, nutrient and bacterial pollution, he said. The project will help address those issues.
Lowder said there is now miminal fishing creek that once supported salmon. However, there is an annual fishing contest in Tekoa that produces perch.
Officials said the project will improve Hangman Creek habitat for fish stock already in Little Hangman Creek and create a better land habitat for birds, pollinators, and mammals.
But don't expect the project to bring salmon back upstream to Tekoa.
Bank stabilization, shade caused by woody habitation and filtering runoff to reduce bacteria will improve water quality downstream and in the Spokane River watershed.
Officials hope to complete the project in spring 2023, and plan to monitor and maintain improvements to ensure success of native grasses, shrubs and trees planted on reshaped banks.
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