Download proposal_gnlcc_grant_ctcr_2014

Great Northern Landscape Conservation Cooperative
Project Proposal 2014
Project Title: Exploration of Issues, Potential Partnerships, and Resources for Landscape Level Assessments
through attendance at GNLCC Steering Committee Meetings.
Project Coordinator/PI: Charles Brushwood, Fish and Wildlife Policy Analyst IV
Email: [email protected]
Ph: (509) 422-7749; Fax: (509) 422-7443
25 B Mission Rd, Omak, WA 98841
Co-PI: Donna Trott, Data Coordinator
Email: [email protected]
(509) 422-4780; Fax: (509) 422-7443
25 B Mission Rd, Omak, WA 98841
Project Summary:
The Colville Indian Reservation land base covers 1.4 million acres located in North Central Washington,
primarily in Okanogan and Ferry counties. Colville Reservation lands are diverse with natural resources
including standing timber, streams, rivers, lakes, minerals, varied terrain, native plants and wildlife,
encompassing the northernmost section of the Columbia River within the US. The Colville Tribes Fish and
Wildlife (CTFW) Department is tasked with maintaining and protecting viable populations of native and desired
non-native species of fish and wildlife and supporting habitats, while meeting the cultural, subsistence,
recreational and economic needs of the Colville membership.
We propose to send 1-3 CTFW scientists to GNLCC Steering Committee meetings in FY2014, so that we can
explore our mutual interests, learn about available resources for landscape level assessments, and discover
opportunities to expand research and mitigation efforts in our area of the Pacific Northwest. We are requesting a
grant of $10,000, an estimated amount to cover the time and travel expense for up to 3 members to attend these
meetings. If time and funding allow, we may also participate in the Partner Forum webinars and telemeetings.
Scientists would be selected from CTFW subdivisions Anadromous Fish, Resident Fish, Wildlife Management
and Administrative departments, based on the intersection of their professional interests with those of the SageSteppe or the Columbia Basin Partner Forums. The funding amount would allow these scientists to become
involved in GNLCC activities, in more than an observer status, should they so desire.
Category for Proposal: Tribal
Need:
Members of the Colville Tribes and scientists working for CTFW are stewards of the region’s varied
ecosystems, confronting an onslaught of anthropogenic stressors such as invasive species, climate change and
energy development. Degradation of aquatic ecological integrity and habitat connectivity has led to population
declines and extinctions in our region. In order to fulfill our mission of environmental stewardship, it is
essential that we collaborate with groups such as the GNLCC to share collective knowledge, efficiently
coordinate with neighboring habitat managers, and cooperate in regional landscape level conservation regimes.
It appears there are many interests we have in common, as our objectives and our projects are consistent with all
four goals outlined in the GNLCC Framework.
Within the Anadromous division of CTFW, the Okanogan Basin Monitoring and Evaluation Program (OBMEP)
concerns itself with the status of habitat, biological and water quality indicators that affect endangered steelhead
and Chinook salmon populations in the Okanogan River Basin. Data collected under OBMEP are not only vital
2
GNLCC Grant Proposal
Confederated Tribes of the Colville Nation
to the recovery of threatened species, but are used in planning efforts, management decisions, and population
level action effectiveness. The work of the Chief Joseph Hatchery focuses on the long term status and trend of
our natural resources and how the hatchery program works to protect, enhance and restore fish populations in
the Okanogan and throughout the upper Columbia region. CJH is the first of its kind to be structured under
recommendations from the Congressional Hatchery Reform Act, the Northwest Power and Conservation
Council’s 4 -Step Planning and Master Plan process and Independent Scientific Review Panel. The program is
managed for variable production and wild fish returns. Success is based on meeting targets for abundance and
composition of natural escapement and hatchery broodstock. The Okanogan Subbasin Habitat and Improvement
Program (OSHIP) implements the Okanogan Subbasin Plan to describe in detail the current state of the
Okanogan Basin and then describe the limiting factors for anadromous salmonid production and survival.
Properties and water rights have been purchased for habitat protection and stream flow restoration, and
construction projects have been implemented for salmonid spawning and rearing habitat improvement.
The Wildlife Division emphasizes management of tribal priority species and habitats of conservation concern,
and properties acquired under wildlife mitigation agreements for the Chief Joseph and Grand Coulee hydroelectric projects. This focused management approach benefits those species not specifically addressed in
management planning by securing and connecting abundant quality habitat throughout the Reservation and the
usual and accustomed lands. Projects include the reestablishment of bighorn sheep on the Colville Reservation,
surveys of Northern goshawk presence, great gray owl nests, bald and golden eagle nests and amphibian
reproduction and site fidelity surveys, invasive weed control, and removal of fencing and barriers to wildlife
habitat connectivity.
Goals for the Resident Fish Division: ensure the continued persistence, function, and diversity of existing
resident fish species and their habitat; maintain and restore ecosystems and watersheds that provide functional
links to ensure their continued persistence, function and diversity; restore native resident fish species,
subspecies, stocks and populations throughout their historic ranges where habitats exist or where habitats can be
feasibly restored; restore watershed aquatic and riparian areas where natural processes, functions and conditions
have been degraded. Important species to the Colville Tribes include white sturgeon, kokanee salmon and trout.
The Resident Fish Division researches and implements programs such as reduction of predation by nonnative
species, lake and stream water quality enhancement, habitat and passage improvements.
The Landscape level challenges we encounter are enormous. Since its inception in 1976, CTFW has
accumulated an extensive database of basic wildlife and habitat observations, developed scientific methods and
research protocols specific to the local species and ecosystems, and steadfastly acquired understanding of
naturally functioning terrestrial and aquatic communities. We believe we can contribute something of value to
the GNLCC and Partner Forums.
Objectives:
1.
Exploration of common priority issues
2.
Cultivate potential partnerships
3.
Explore available resources for landscape level assessment funding.
Methods: n/a
Deliverables: n/a
Statement of Compliance:
The Project coordinator/PI (Charles Brushwood) and Co-PI (Donna Trott) have read Great
3
GNLCC Grant Proposal
Confederated Tribes of the Colville Nation
Northern Landscape Conservation Cooperative Information Management, Delivery, and Sharing
Standards and agree to comply with those standards if the proposal is selected.
Schedule (single-year project):
Attend the Fall and Spring GNLCC Steering Committee Meetings (scheduled TBD).