DNR News
The Spokane Tribe of Indians vision is to achieve true sovereignty by attaining self-sufficiency. We will preserve and enhance our traditional values by living and teaching the inherent principles of respect, honor and integrity as embodied in our language and life-ways. We will develop strong leadership through education, accountability, experience and positive reinforcement.
STOI DNR-Update December 2022
/in DNR NewsAnadromous Program
In December the Anadromous Program continued policy and technical work. Participating in several policy processes including the Spokane River Lead Entity development, Columbia Basin Collaborative, Blocked Areas Anadromous Fish Working Group, and the Columbia River Treaty. Staff began bi-weekly monitoring of juvenile chinook in net pens in Lake Roosevelt and will continue monitoring and feeding in anticipation of continuing juvenile movement surveys in Spring ‘23.
Fisheries Program
The month of December has been focused on equipment preparation and maintenance and continuing the fish health assessments of net pen fish. Staff began finalizing data entry and conducting quality assurance and quality control reviews. 2021 annual reports are being reviewed for final submissions. Several grant proposals have been prepared.
Spokane Tribal Hatchery Program
Fish production consisting of:
Completed:
Assisted snow plowing, ongoing operation and maintenance of fish hatchery facilities and grounds.
Water Resources Program
EPA 106 Report:
Draft 106 report was completed and sent to Brian Crossley for review.
Climate Adaptation Plan:
On December 6-8th Abt Associates along with DNR staff visited West End, Wellpinit, and Ford communities to conduct community meetings and provide information to tribal members about climate change. Attendance was low at the meetings due to inclement weather and poor road conditions. The climate adaptation survey has been closed and results are being reviewed.
Snow Survey:
Snow survey was completed on December 28th-29th. Results were reviewed and forwarded to Scott Pattee (NRCS) on January 3rd. Average snow depth and density are as follows:
West end lookout: 28 inches, 25%
Togo: 29 inches, 22%
Chamokane: 21 inches, 24%
Wildlife
In December the Wildlife Program has been primarily focused on organizing all the data and samples collected during the tribal elk, deer, and moose hunts. That includes summarizing this year’s data and comparing it to previous years, double checking all teeth and retropharyngeal lymph nodes are accurately labeled and accounted for. We also measured newly collected embryos and entered that data to find a wide range in breeding dates this year. Additionally, we are working with WADDL labs for them to analyze all lymph node samples for CWD and Matson’s Laboratory to do aging on tooth samples. Other preparation is occurring for winter aerial surveys typically done during either January or February. Wildlife techs attempted to check trail cameras to replace batteries, swap SD cards, and remove snow from in front of them. Other office work has included budget modifications, quarterly reports, and data management. Wildlife Biologists continue to monitor animals equipped with GPS collars and monitor predators with trail camera data.
Mitigation
The Program aided in the removal of snow within the Reservation as well as worked on routine equipment maintenance. The program winterized our Westend field office and has been working on a forest health improvement project in the Cottonwood Creek WMA.
TFW-Timber, Fish & Wildlife
The timber, fish, and wildlife program continued work to monitor timber harvest activities on private and state lands within the Tribe’s Usual & Accustomed area. This included review of 22 Forest Practices Applications and 3 Water Type Modification requests in Stevens, Spokane, and Lincoln counties. This work helped to achieve adequate natural resource protections and compliance with state regulations. Additionally, the program continued its collaboration with the Washington Forest Practices Adaptive Management Program (AMP) through participation in the Scientific Advisory Group Eastside (SAGE) and the Instream Scientific Advisory Group (ISAG). Participation involved representation in meetings as well as review of AMP documents, including the study design for the Eastside Timber Habitat Evaluation Project. At the 2022 Carbon Friendly Forestry Conference, TFW employees gained new insights on ecological forestry topics such as community forestry, climate-smart wood supply chains, wildfire, carbon offsets, connections between forestry and water flows, state lands, and forest carbon science.
Air Quality
Forestry Administration
TIMBER SALES
FOREST DEVELOPMENT
PRESALES
FIRE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM
FUELS
GIS
Preservation
Collections staff recently attended the 2022 National Tribal Leaders Climate Change Summit to increase our awareness and knowledge of climate change impacts on tribal cultural resources and better prepare to mitigate the associated risks. STIPP collections staff continues to work with Gonzaga University faculty members and other Spokane Tribal staff to plan and develop a future discovery garden at Wildhorse Park in Spokane, WA, and a corresponding informational website that visitors can link to via QR codes while walking the Children of the Sun Trail to learn more about the area’s environmental and sociocultural history, tribal history, ethnobotany, tribal traditional ecological knowledge, oral history, etc. Continued efforts to update the photographic record for each artifact within the collection are still underway and collections staff are preparing to begin a long-term project to label or re-label all artifacts using a laser-printed method for those that require the use of adhesives.
STOI DNR Update-November 2022
/in DNR NewsDepartment of Natural Resources
November Report 2022
Forestry Administration
TIMBER SALES
FOREST DEVELOPMENT
PRESALES
FIRE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM
FUELS
GIS
Air Quality
Water & Fish
TFW
The timber, fish, and wildlife program continued work to monitor timber harvest activities on private and state lands within the Tribe’s Usual & Accustomed area. This included review of 47 Forest Practices Applications and 5 Water Type Modification requests in Stevens, Spokane, and Lincoln counties. This work helped to achieve adequate natural resource protections and compliance with state regulations. Additionally, the program continued its collaboration with the Washington Forest Practices Adaptive Management Program (AMP) through participation in the Scientific Advisory Group Eastside (SAGE), the Instream Scientific Advisory Group (ISAG), the Cooperative Monitoring, Evaluation, and Research Committee (CMER), and the Washington State Forest Practices Board. Participation involved representation in meetings as well as review of AMP documents, including the study design for the evaluation of potential habitat breaks (PHBs) for use in delineating end of fish habitat in forested landscapes in Washington State.
Wildlife
In November the Wildlife Program has been primarily focused on the tribal elk hunt. This included preparation and training all staff on tooth, embryo, and lymph node collection protocols. Wildlife staff manned 2 elk hunt check stations for the duration of the hunt collecting all of these samples and various data metrics. The elk hunt resulted in 162 total animals taken in the 12 days. Following elk hunt, the Program enters data, checks all sample collection for continuity and appropriate labels. Wildlife Biologists continue to monitor animals equipped with GPS collars and monitor predators with trail camera data.
Tribal biologists also attended the national Wildlife Society conference in Spokane and presented on Stewardship on Tribal lands and Predator/Prey dynamics on the reservation.
Mitigation
The Program assisted in the collection of Lymph Nodes, Embryo checks and Lymph Node extraction for the annual Tribal Elk Hunt. We have been performing maintenance on tractors, ATV’s and UTV’s.
Range
During November 2022, the Range Program worked on livestock monitoring after the open range season closed, continued reinforcing corrals, equipment maintenance, and other end of season activities. Early snowfall inhibited Fall weed control plans, so the extra time was spent on data entry, conducting a supply inventory, and winterizing weed management tools. The program also continued a spring development and condition survey. Planning projects for 2023 was a priority for the latter part of the month, including spring developments, native grass seeding, noxious weed management, and vegetation surveys.
BPA Coordination
Presentations (STOI History) to:
Interview/videos:
Meetings:
Anadromous Fisheries Program
In November the Anadromous Program continued policy and technical work. Participating in several policy processes including the Spokane River Lead Entity development, Columbia Basin Collaborative, Blocked Areas Anadromous Fish Working Group, and the Columbia River Treaty. Most excitingly, staff transferred juvenile chinook to net pens in Lake Roosevelt and have continued monitoring and feeding in anticipation of continuing juvenile movement surveys in Spring ‘23.
Fisheries Program
The month of November was the end of seasonal field work with the completion of the fall Northern Pike Survey with CTCR and WDFW and sampling in the Little Falls Pool. We began our winter season with monthly fish health assessment of net pen fish. Staff began post field season equipment cleaning and maintenance. White Sturgeon staff participating in the White Sturgeon Policy staff continued participation in many regional and national processes; Columbia Basin Collaborative, Blocked Areas Anadromous Fish Working Group, Columbia River Treaty, Fish Passage Advisory Group, the Federal Columbia River Power System Technical Management Team, and others.
Park Rangers
November is a very busy month for the Ranger department. Twelve days of annual elk hunt in which the Rangers patrol and assist both the public and wildlife departments. One citation was written for a deer season violation. Two elk from the hunt were processed for the food bank. Many woodcutter and hunting checks throughout the month. Fishing season has kicked off with a few tribal members shoreline fishing lake Roosevelt. The recent snow at the end of the month rangers were called upon many times to assist the public with the removal of stuck vehicles.
Department of Natural Resources Update – 10/22
/in DNR News, Rawhide PressDepartment of Natural Resources October 2022 Update
Preservation Program updates- October 2022
Some of these projects have been completed, a few will continue be monitored though November
• Cayuse cove monitoring
• Monitoring Avista grid hardening, pole replacement on reservation
• Monitoring State Fish hatchery on little Spokane River
• Monitoring Avista pipe line in Airway Heights
• Old Burn Timber sale clearance
• Helping with Elder wood cutting with DNR
• Project Specific Programmatic agreement for Lake Roosevelt
October 2022 Collections Efforts and Accomplishments
Collections staff have continued efforts to monitor storage climate conditions, especially in light of the potential fluctuations that can occur during seasonal shifts. The data logger readings for temperature and relative humidity % are reviewed daily to ensure there are no significant fluctuations, and data reports continue to be collected at the end of each month for monthly and yearly comparisons of our storage conditions. Insect monitors were also replaced at the start of October to assess any potential changes in the types or quantities of pests that occur during seasonal shifts.
The Collections staff also assisted in the cleaning and conservation of a feather headdress at the Walt Goodman Historical Museum in Chewelah, WA, providing training and information to the staff there on the proper care for the headdress. Techniques, materials, and conservation supplies were shared during the site visit at the Chewelah Museum as a means to both conduct the cleaning of the headdress which had evidence of past pest damage as well as considerable dirt, dust, and debris, as well as bolster the preservation efforts and knowledge of the staff caring for the headdress and other similar artifacts. During our site visit, further discussion also took place on the continued development of the Native American Education exhibit. Additional educational outreach has been scheduled for November with local regional schools, including presentations that will be given to 7th and 8th grade students and Deer Park Middle School and 4th and 5th grade students at Mark Walker School District. These presentations will focus on the history and culture of the Spokane Tribe, cultural resources, and collections care for the Spokane’s cultural heritage.
Forestry
October Accomplishments
Forestry programs include Accounting, Forest Development, Fire Management, Fuels Management, GIS, Timber Sales, and Presales.
Forestry’s Mission Statement is to maintain long-term forest health and growth for a sustainable timber harvest, while preserving and enhancing old growth, native plants, wildlife habitat, water resources, air quality, cultural resources, and visual aesthetics. With that, highlights by Forestry programs include:
Presales: CFI Re-measurement almost complete, expect field data collection to be completed in 1 month. Crew marking in Guard Cabin.
Timber Sales- Currently working in Frost Pocket, Fire Break, Elk Drop and 2021 Allotment Sale.
Accounting- Completed biweekly sale invoicing and data transferring. Issues ticket books throughout the month along with firewood cutting permits.
GIS- April Kaiser has started employment for the tribe as the GIS Manager. She is currently transitioning into the position, and has scheduled the first steering committee meeting for November 8th, 2022. The buffalo drive for DNR now has a weekly differential back up from GISD001 to FMGD001 every Sunday. Software updates have been completed on the GIS office computers. The ESRI license agreement form was updated and completed for the Bureau of Indian Affairs. ESRI licenses were ordered and received for concurrent use for ArcGIS Pro 3.0 in DNR. There will be a major push to switch from ArcMap to ArcGIS Pro over the next several weeks. Reorganization of data and 2022 updates for DNR’s geodatabase layers are underway.
Fuels- Completed Prescribed Fire treatments on 1,581 acres. Assisted with Elders wood gathering.
Forest Development- Completed BIA annual reporting. Assisted with Elders wood gathering.
Fire Management- Staff transitioned over to the Fuels program and assisted with prescribed fire. Management staff reviewing training needs and seeking training opportunities for staff.
Water & Fish Program October Report
• final watering/fertilizer on Bradford project and removal of hoses and pumps
• Mine site visit
• Fish removal on Blue Creek bank stabilization
• Wood for elders (1 week) all staff
• Assisting in FWINN sampling Lake Roosevelt
• JSAP sow and budget to BPA
• Retrieved and downloaded temperature data loggers on all sites minus 1
• Stream flows
• Posted climate change surveys around Reservation
• Plant trees on Lane Mountain
• Mtgs, Climate change plan, water resources plan, utilities lagoon sampling, lead entity, Dawn Mill ACL and attorneys and staff, Spokane River Forum,
• Sampled community water systems
• Review California Creek weed abatement
• ID Team leads for homesite, timber sales and emergency authorization for timber removal
• Review of Avista’s temperature attainment plan and internal coordination
Anadromous Program Monthly Report October 2022
• In October the Anadromous Program was over their waders in policy and technical work. Participating in several policy processes including the Columbia Basin Collaborative, Blocked Areas Anadromous Fish Working Group, and the Columbia River Treaty; staff continue to push fish passage and reintroduction of salmon to the Tribe’s waters as being a benefit to the entire Basin. For the purposes of information sharing and receiving a comprehensive technical review of the UCUT Phase 2 Implementation Plan, Program staff alongside our UCUT counterparts took representatives of the Independent Scientific Advisory Board on a tour of the region, putting our reintroduction plan into context for the reviewers. Most excitingly, staff performed several redd surveys on the Spokane River – documenting the successful spawning of Chinook salmon released during this summer’s multi-tribal joint release. Spoiler alert! More than 23 redds were found in the limited section of river that was surveyed!
Fisheries Program Monthly Report October 2022
• The month of October was punctuated by a push to wrap up the majority of field season before winter weather sets in. Staff completed White Sturgeon Stock Assessment surveys, conducted Northern Pike suppression surveys, along with sampling for Young-of-Year fish and Water quality monitoring. We assisted the Lake Roosevelt Net Pen Volunteers with deployment of the net pens and transferred approximately 400 thousand rainbow trout from the hatchery to the pens. The program also completed the annual Fall Walleye Index Netting survey, along with CTCR and WDFW and began preparation for the fall Northern Pike survey in the first week of November. Additionally, policy staff continued pushing the Tribe’s message of mitigation and reintroduction of Salmon through participation in many regional and national processes; Columbia Basin Collaborative, Blocked Areas Anadromous Fish Working Group, Columbia River Treaty, Fish Passage Advisory Group, the Federal Columbia River Power System Technical Management Team, and others.
Air Quality Program October Report
• Wood Gathering planning and event for Tribal Elders and those in need.
• Ford Escape mileage services – Corwin Ford
• Biennial Tribal/EPA meeting work group/planning (Meeting set for November 8-10)
• Northwest AIRQUEST – Air Modeling, forecasting for the month
• NTAA CALLS (Mobile Sources, Indoor Air Quality, Monthly NTAA Call, Alaska Tribal Air Work, NTAA/EPA Air Policy, Quarterly EJ Discussion)
• Spokane Tribe Climate Resilience Planning – for Climate Resilience Grant update calls
Range October 2022 Report
During October 2022, the Range Program worked on Thistle eradication in areas off of Drum Rd. In total, 16 acres were treated across the area, which will ultimately have benefits to livestock and wildlife habitat. Two small scale native grass seeding trials were completed in the Cayuse burn area. This area is heavily infested with noxious weeds, though it is often too steep or rocky to utilize traditional equipment for planting. Seed was broadcasted into the area and will be periodically monitored for success. Revegetating areas with high weed pressure will benefit livestock and wildlife, and will help reduce herbicide use on the reservation. A spring mapping and condition survey was started to update existing location and condition data on springs, troughs, and other water sources and improvements across the reservation. The program also reinforced and improved a corral near the Andersen Ranch.
Wildlife Program October Report
In October the Wildlife Program has been actively trapping black bears as part of a new research project that will be looking at diet, home range, and population dynamics. This involves identifying bear areas and setting large live traps baited with food. Once trapped, bears are tranquilized and equipped with GPS collars that allow Wildlife Staff to track them for up to 3 years. Wildlife Biologists attended a Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) sample collection training. This information will be used to train other Wildlife Staff to collect Retropharyngeal Lymph Nodes from deer and elk as part of a new surveillance program for CWD. The Program is hoping to obtain as many samples as possible to send in for laboratory testing as CWD continues to be found closer to Washington borders. Wildlife Biologists continue to monitor animals equipped with GPS collars and monitor predators with trail camera data.
Wildlife Mitigation
During the month of October, the program finished up our fall cover crop planting. We planted a wheat/canola mix as well as triticale/ pea mix. Our staff has been working on fence maintenance. The program has planted 300 aspen trees on mitigation properties to enhance previous planted aspen stands.
Timber, Fish & Wildlife
The timber, fish, and wildlife program continued work to monitor timber harvest activities on private and state lands within the Tribe’s Usual & Accustomed lands. This included review of 30 Forest Practices Applications and 9 Water Type Modification requests in Stevens, Spokane, and Lincoln counties. This work helped to achieve adequate Natural Resource protections and compliance with state regulations. Additionally, the program continued its collaboration with the Washington Forest Practices Adaptive Management Program through participation in the Scientific Advisory Group Eastside (SAGE), the Instream Scientific Advisory Group (ISAG), the Cooperative Monitoring, Evaluation, and Research (CMER), and the Washington State Forest Practices Board. Participation included representation in meetings as well as review of Adaptive Management Program documents, including the Eastside Timber Habitat Evaluation Project (ETHEP) Draft Study Design
Burn Ban in Effect
/in DNR News, Rawhide PressFire Danger Level Set to HIGH
/in DNR News, Rawhide PressFire Danger for 2022 is officially set to “HIGH” on the Spokane Indian Reservation. Please be safe!
2022 Hunting Regulations
/in Daily News, DNR News, Rawhide PressApproved 2022 Hunting Regulations
Please click link below to download Regulations.
| Hunting Regs 2022 |
Spring Chinook Allocation 6/9/2022
/in DNR News, Rawhide PressTribal crews will be traveling to Leavenworth on Thursday June 9, 2022 to pick up salmon and will be distributing to three locations. This is the first Salmon allocation of the year so….Please be courteous to your DNR staff and your fellow tribal members to make sure all benefit from our Salmon Allocations. If you would like any extra fish, PLEASE wait till after the rush and most have had a chance to get fish. We have a limited amount for distribution.
Distribution Areas at approximately 3:30-4:00 p.m.
Wellpinit – Trading Post
West End – Pappy’s Corner
Ford – Kurt’s Corner
Please bring own cooler or bags, bags will not be provided.
The crews will call ahead to broadcast if there is a change in time of distribution.
2022 STOI Hatchery Fish Planting Report
/in DNR News, Rawhide PressWhite Sturgeon Anglers Needed
/in DNR News, Events, Rawhide Press2022 White Sturgeon Harvest Fishery Rules and Regualations
February 3, 2022
Tribal Members Needed to Participate in White Sturgeon Research and Harvest with the Spokane Tribal Fisheries Program.
The Lake Roosevelt Sturgeon Recovery (LRSRP) project is looking for enrolled Spokane Tribal Members to help with the harvest and collection of biological data from White Sturgeon in Lake Roosevelt. The LRSRP will be seeking individuals to participate in a two week survey using recreational angling equipment to collect and harvest White Sturgeon. A limited amount of space is available and a special drawing will be held to select individuals.
Participants may apply only once for each of the ten selected days. The application period will be from February 3, 2021 through February 18, 2021. After the application period closes and the drawing finalized, successful applicants will be notified via email. To apply, applicants must be at least 18 years of age on February 3, 2021 and need to provide the following information: name, age, birth date, tribal enrollment number, phone number, and email address. Individuals can apply for the drawing by email (shireenb@SpokaneTribe.com) or by calling and speaking with the DNR office manager (509-626-4400). Due to COVID-19 policies, individuals MAY NOT sign up in person at the DNR.
Participants will be assisting tribal biologists with the collection of hatchery White Sturgeon for a food habits survey. All White Sturgeon that are within the slot limit (38-63 in.) will be retained for harvest. During these trips, harvested White Sturgeon do not need to be checked into the Public Safety Building, DNR, or at the Two Rivers Marina. Tribal biologists will record the information at the time of harvest. The survey will run for a two week period (3/14/2022-3/18/2022 and 3/21/2022 – 3/25/2022). Angler trips will be 8 hours in length from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. Selected individuals must report to the Kettle Falls Marina by 9:00 am on their selected day. Fishing vessels will leave the marina at 9:15 am with or without everyone. Only individuals selected will be allowed to board the vessels. All angling gear will be provided by the LRSRP. Individuals must provide an ice chest or other transport container capable of transporting White Sturgeon fillets. Selected individuals should also provide: food, water, rain gear, and waterproof boots/shoes. Personal floatation devices will be provided by the LRSRP and must been worn at all times while on board the vessels. Alcohol/drugs will not be permitted on the vessels and anyone appearing under the influence of alcohol/drugs will not be allowed to board the vessels.
For more information regarding this survey or any other questions regarding White Sturgeon in Lake Roosevelt please contact Andy Miller or Jacob Velarde at 509-244-7031.