BPA Fish and Wildlife FY 1997 Proposal

Section 1. Administrative
Section 2. Narrative
Section 3. Budget

see CBFWA and BPA funding recommendations

Section 1. Administrative

Title of project
Hellsgate Big Game Winter Range

BPA project number   9204800

Business name of agency, institution or organization requesting funding
Colville Confederated Tribes

Sponsor type   WA-Tribe

Proposal contact person or principal investigator

BPA technical contact   Joe DeHerrera, EWP 503/231-6971

Biological opinion ID   Interim Wildlife Agreement

NWPPC Program number   11.3F.5

Short description
Protect and enhance approximately 17,000 acres of upland shrub-stippe, forest habitat on the Colville Reservation.

Project start year   1992    End year   

Start of operation and/or maintenance   2015

Project development phase   Implementation

Section 2. Narrative

Related projects
9506700 Adjoining Project Parts

Project history
Proposed in 1992 by the Colville Tribes as partial mitigation for Grand Coulee. To date the Project has protected about 5,000 acres of habitat.

Biological results achieved
The Project has permanently protected about 5,000 acres of big game winter range and habitat for a variety of other species.

Annual reports and technical papers
Hellsgate Winter Range Mitigation Project Long Term Management Plan, 1993.
Hellsgate Winter Range Wildlife Mitigation Evironmental Assessment, 1995.

Management implications
Baseline HEP analysis of portion of protected properties is providing data for site specific management planning.

Specific measureable objectives
Complete and monitor protection and enhacement efforts over time.

Testable hypothesis
Long term protection, management, and enhancement of project lands will provide increased biodiversity, improves soil, water and vegetation quality and quantity. Animal populations will benefit because of these actions.

Underlying assumptions or critical constraints
Management and enhancement activities based on sound ecosystem concepts and adaptive management principles will lead to wildlife habitat improvement and maintenance. The chief constraint will be the amount and timing of funding to carryout program activities.

Methods
We are primarily in the implementation and protection phase. Methods, etc. will be developed during and following the completion of the site specific management plans.

Brief schedule of activities
1997: Continue proteciton and maintenance of project properties.
Continue development of site specific management plans.
1998-2001: Start enhancement and continue O & M phases. Start monitoring activities.

Biological need
Many thousands of acres and their associated habitat units were lost due to inundation. This project will help mitigate some of those losses. It will provide benefits for the regions wildlife and fisheries far into the future.

Critical uncertainties
Funding quantity and stability.

Summary of expected outcome
We expect this project to provide improved wildlife habitat and wildlife benefits, in perpetuity, for the Colville Tribes and the public in general.

Dependencies/opportunities for cooperation
Availability of enhancement funds due to BPA market conditions. Otherwise things should go forward fairly well.

Risks
No project is without risk. However barring catastrophic wildfire or a prolonged drought period major risks should be minimal. The greatest risk would be loss of funding to manage and maintain the project.

Monitoring activity
Transects to evaluate vegetation changes. Plant survival monitoring on enhancements. Trend census of selected wildlife species. Some periodic HEP evaluations.

Section 3. Budget

* For most projects, Authorized is the amount recommended by CBFWA and the Council. Planned is amount currently allocated. Contracted is the amount obligated to date of printout.

Funding recommendations

CBFWA funding review group   Wildlife

Recommendation    Tier 2 - fund when funds available

Recommended funding level   $0