Comment on proposed FY 2006 budget

The Spokane Tribe of Indians will be renewing the Spokane Tribe Wildlife Mitigation Operation & Maintenance contract for FY2006. The budget is consistent with the FY2004 recommendation of $190,563, but does not represent the out-year needs that were identified in the 2001 Rolling Review. To date the Spokane Tribe has acquired an additional 1465 acres (FY04-05) of Wildlife Lands for Construction & Inundation Losses at Grand Coulee Dam, which brings the project acreage to 3,328. There is the potential for up to 2,185 additional acres in FY05. Funding is insufficient to implement required O&M activities such as fence repair/construction, weed control, and access maintenance activities on all the new lands. I am requesting an additional $25,000 to the budget, which would increase the budget to $215,563, so that the necessary equipment, supplies, and staff are available to conduct the work.

Accomplishments since the last review

2001 PLANT VEG: 2,500 riparian trees and shrubs planted (non-BPA enhancement) INSTALL FENCE: 5000’ of removal, new, repairs REMOVE VEG: weed control measures IMPROVE ROAD: access road maintenance COLLECT FIELD DATA: conducted 13 Wildlife Surveys PRODUCED STATUS REPORTS: 4 Reports PRODUCED ANNUAL REPORT: 1 Report 2002 PLANT VEG: 3,000 riparian trees and shrubs planted (non-BPA enhancement) INSTALL FENCE: 5,000’ of removal, new, repairs REMOVE VEG: weed control measures IMPROVE ROAD: access road maintenance COLLECT FIELD DATA: conducted 13 Wildlife Surveys PRODUCED STATUS REPORTS: 4 Reports PRODUCED ANNUAL REPORT: 1 Report 2003 PLANT VEG: 3,200 riparian trees and shrubs (non-BPA enhancement) INSTALL FENCE: 6,500’ of removal, new, repairs REMOVE VEG: weed control measures IMPROVE ROAD: access road maintenance COLLECT FIELD DATA: conducted 11 Wildlife Surveys REMOVE DEBRIS: Site clean-up on 2 tracts OPERATE/MAINTAIN FACILITY: Enclosed field shop PRODUCED STATUS REPORTS: 4 Reports PRODUCED ANNUAL REPORT: 1 Report 2004 PLANT VEG: 4,600 riparian trees and shrubs, and 36 acres of native grass (non-BPA enhancement) REALIGN, CONNECT, AND/OR CREATE CHANNEL: 1000' of McCoy Creek channel restored (only manager salary during planning was BPA funded) INSTALL FENCE: 6,500’ of removal, new, repairs REMOVE VEG: weed control measures IMPROVE ROAD: access road maintenance COLLECT FIELD DATA: conducted 10 Wildlife Surveys PRODUCED STATUS REPORTS: 4 Reports PRODUCED ANNUAL REPORT: 1 Report 2005 PLANT VEG: 18,500 riparian trees and shrubs, and 12 acres of native grass (non-BPA enhancement); REALIGN, CONNECT, AND/OR CREATE CHANNEL: 2640' of McCoy Creek channel (BPA funded managers time planning). INSTALL FENCE: 10,500’ of removal, new, repairs REMOVE VEG: weed control measures COLLECT FIELD DATA: conducted 10 Wildlife Surveys PRODUCED STATUS REPORTS: 4 Reports PRODUCED ANNUAL REPORT: 1 Report

FY 2006 goals and anticipated accomplishments

Primary goals for FY06 will be to conduct fencing activities on boundary fences to control trespass livestock, weed control, access road maintenance, wildlife monitoring & evaluation, and development of Site Specific Management Plans, and maintenance of any enhancement activities. Plant approximately 11,000 native trees and shrubs, and 80 acres of native grass establishment (O&M dollars only used for maintenance of enhancements).

Subbasin planning

How is this project consistent with subbasin plans?

Project is consistent with Intermountain Province Objectives 1A (1A.1-1A.9) Strategy b – High Priority Strategy c – Medium Priority Objective 2B.1 Strategy a – High Priority Strategy c – High Priority Strategy d – High Priority Strategy e – High Priority

How do goals match subbasin plan priorities?

Objectives 1A (1A.1-1A.9) Strategy b – High Priority Strategy c – Medium Priority Objective 2B.1 Strategy a – High Priority Strategy c – High Priority Strategy d – High Priority Strategy e – High Priority

Other comments

Spokane Tribe of Indians; Blue Creek Winter Range (1991-062-00) is the project that acquires the land that is managed by this project.