In 1994, Idaho listed Rapid Creek for sediment impairment. 18 years later, restoration improved habitat scores and Lower Rapid Creek was removed from the 2012 impaired waters list

Rapid Creek in southeastern Idaho offers a compelling example of how long-term watershed restoration can transform water quality and aquatic habitat. Rapid Creek ultimately became a useful model of how persistent conservation can restore a degraded stream. The improvement was built over approximately 18 years through agricultural conservation, erosion reduction, stream protection, technical assistance, financial investment and repeated scientific assessment.