Lake Roosvelt Fisheries Program

Activity Highlights

• Gave a tour of Lake Roosevelt to BPA Leadership.
• Began Northern Pike Suppression in Lake Roosevelt
• Net Pen Fish Health Checks
• Began release of Chinook smolts.
• Boat maintenance and prep
• Freshwater Mussel survey prep
• Salmon Recovery Conference
• Spokane River Forum

Project Highlights/Status

• Project staff continue annual suppression and removal of Northern Pike from Lake Roosevelt.
• Staff began releasing Chinook smolts through the Phase 2 Implementation Plan.
• Project staff attended the Salmon Recovery Conference and gave presentations.
• Staff presented several times at the Spokane River Forum.
• Staff submitted pre-application proposal for the America the Beautiful Contest grant program.
• Staff completed several resolution and equipment purchases.
• Continuing annual water quality monitoring surveys and data collection.
• Staff were informed of receiving the Invasive Species Award for Northern Pike Suppression from BIA.
• Received PIT Tags to prepare for marking/tagging study on Rainbow Trout.

Grants Report
The General Fund does not provide any support for Spokane Tribal Fisheries work. All Projects are 100% funded by external awards and grants.

PROGRAM	FUND #	PURPOSE	AWARD	STATUS
LR Cost Share	5601-1234	LR Costs shared with other agencies	$75,480	Current
BPA LR Data Collection	5711-1241	Impact Mitigation	$2,000,000	Current
BPA LR Northern Pike Suppression	5712-1321	Impact Mitigation	$491,537	Current
BPA LR White Sturgeon Recovery	5719-1235	Impact Mitigation	$893,280	Current
BIA Northern Pike Invasive	4414-1321	Invasive Species Removal	$71,910	Current
BIA Northern Pike Invasive	4414-1321	FY23 Invasive Species Removal	$200,000	Awarded
BIA Tribal Youth Initiative	4414-1319	Engage Tribal Youth in Natural Resources	$35,792	Current
BIA Sturgeon Translocation	4412-1235	Support for White Sturgeon Recovery	$47,660	Current
BIA Water Reuse Project	4414-1396	Water reuse improvements at hatchery	$1,640,460	Current
BIA Fish Health Project	4414-1398	Fish pump & counter equipment	$101,439	Current
BOR Water Reuse Project	4449-1398	Water reuse improvements at hatchery	$500,000	Current
BCHydro White Sturgeon Recovery	2052-1369	White sturgeon genetics survey	$125,066	Current
EPA Columbia River Restoration	5420-1393	Contaminant Status & Movement survey	$262,500	Current
BOR Invasive Species Monitoring	Pending	Lake Roosevelt invasive species monitoring	$100,000	Pending
		TOTAL:	$6,548,124

Budget Status

• None overspent.

Community Engagement Activity Highlights

• Preparing for Student Discovery Week in May.
• Preparing for Glover Middle School (80) students for fisheries tour and Spokane Tribal history discussion.
• Participated in regional coordination meetings included:
  • Lake Roosevelt Annual Co-managers meeting
  • Columbia Basin Collaborative group
  • Northwest Power and Conservation Council
  • Blocked Area Anadromous Working Group

Personnel Status

• Need 3 full-time Fisheries Technicians: One position closed on April 26.
• Need 2 seasonal Fisheries Technicians. Document submitted, awaiting posting by HR.
• Habitat Biologist needed to support the development of a Lead Entity. Position will be split between the LE and Fisheries, supporting existing habitat restoration work the Tribe is performing. Position Description and advertising in late April early May

Challenges/Actions

• Future grant opportunities are hindered due to staffing and space requirements.

Future Projects

• White Sturgeon food habits: BPA funded.
• Spontaneous autopolyploid testing of hatchery White Sturgeon; BPA Funded
• Analysis of genetic diversity produced from our repatriation program; BPA funded.
• Walleye and Sculpin Predation of juvenile White Sturgeon; BPA funded.
• Mark/Tag study of Rainbow Trout recruitment to Creel; BPA funded.
• Redband Trout Habitat Assessment; BPA funded.
• Hatchery Water re-use improvement: BOR/BIA funded; RFP Posted for vendors.
• Spokane River Arm Native Mussel Assessment; BPA Funded.
• Bureau of Reclamation Aquatic Invasive Species Project; Pending BOR funding.

Spokane Tribal Hatchery

Activity Highlights 

• March-April released 2,000 triploid rainbow trout ranging from 1 to 3 lbs each below Little Falls Dam.  
• April – Stocked Turtle, Benjamin and McCoys Lake with 2,000 triploid rainbow trout, Ford Mill Pond with 230 triploid rainbow trout.  Trout stocked averaged 2.5 lb each.      
• Fish production @ 48,000 triploid rainbow trout yearlings; 720,000 triploid rainbow trout fingerlings. 
• Stocked tagged fish in reservation lakes for 2023 Spokane Tribal Fishing Derby 

Project Highlights/Status 

• Obtained $12,000 sponsorship for providing 2023 Spokane Tribal Hatchery prizes.  Sponsors include Spokane Tribal Business Council, Spokane Tribal Health and Human Services Department, Water Resources/Avista Mitigation Program and Spokane Tribal Hatchery Program. 

Grants Report 

• BPA Cooperative Agreement Contract #91382 for Jan-Dec 2023 Hatchery O&M @ $1,065,473; BIA FY’23 Hatchery O&M @ $85,381; BIA Hatchery Cyclical Maintenance TBD.   BPA funding is for Federal Columbia River Power System mitigation obligations/objectives.  BIA funding is for Federal Government Tribal natural resources trust responsibilities/support. Program is compliant with funding agency requirements. 

Budget Status 

• Good, budgets are in line with planned expenditures, no major over expenditures.   

Community Engagement Activity Highlights 

• Facilitation of 2023 Spokane Tribal Fishing Derby. 
• Weekly student and visitor tours.  
• The hatchery is open for visitation Monday through Friday, 7 am to 3 pm.   
• Fish releases planned and actual posted on Spokane Tribal Hatchery Facebook site and shared with Rawhide and other social media outlets associated with fishing Lake Roosevelt.   

Personnel Status 

• Hatchery program fully staffed, 7 FTE all Spokane Tribal Members.  There are no vacant positions.  

Challenges/Actions 

• The hatchery employs prudent standard hatchery practices and utilizes up to date/innovative aquaculture techniques to work toward meeting its annual production goals of providing 750,000 triploid trout to Lake Roosevelt Net Pens, releasing 40,000 triploid trout in the Spokane Arm of Lake Roosevelt and stocking 5,000 triploid trout in reservation lakes. 

Future Projects 

• Retrofitting hatchery water reuse module to partial reuse aquaculture system with BIA and Bureau of Reclamation climate change funding.  
• Spring cleanup, hatchery facilities and grounds.    

Spokane Tribal Park Rangers

Activity Highlights 

   The Ranger department has been actively monitoring the north boundary of the reservation as the state Turkey season is open. The lake level has been stable at 1242 feet and Rangers continue to monitor the drawdown for ARPA violations.  Shoreline anglers are increasing and walleye, bass and trout are being caught. All NPS boat ramps are out of water and the A Frame Launch allows tribal members boating/Fishing access. A few tribal turkey hunters have been checked I the field.  Firearms training qualification will occur today, one ranger is one scheduled leave and will shoot on the makeup day next week. Attended an 8 hr. Tribal Eagle summit webinar. All rangers passed the test and received certificate for the Criminal jurisdiction training last month.  

Community Engagement Activity Highlights 

The Annual Tribal Fishing derby starts tomorrow, this includes four inland lakes that will be closely monitored and regulations enforced for the duration of the derby. 

Personnel Status 

Seasonal Park Maintenance employee has returned and is preparing the campgrounds for the summer season. The Swim dock at Maggie Shoupes has been completely removed as is was beyond repair. 

Challenges/Actions 

• Sir 0386 has been in the shop for a week needing repair for power steering failure. It should be done within a day of this report.  The jet boat is still on track to be repaired by the middle of next month.
• The new Silverado is in for outfitting of radio and lighting and should be in service soon. 

Wildlife & Timber Fish and Wildlife Programs

Wildlife 

During the month of April, the wildlife program conducted its annual grouse surveys. Two surveys were conducted one on April 13th and the next on April 20th. Grouse surveys provide data on ruffed grouse counts and estimates of abundance. Turkeys are also counted during the surveys. The wildlife program also continues to improve our Chronic wasting disease management plan and submitted our quarterly report to the USDA APHIS for our Chronic wasting disease grant received in 2022. The wildlife program also participated in the annual wildlife committee retreat looking into regulations for the upcoming big game season. Trail cameras were checked which monitor wolf activity on the reservation. Looking into the summer field season, continuing work on ArcGIS to map more habitat survey data points.  

 Wildlife Mitigation 

April has been a busy month for the program. We have planted 71 acres of spring cover crops. These cover crops included an Oats/ Barley mix, oats, Spring Wheat, and Canola/ Pea/ Radish Mix. Weather permitting, we will continue planting on the Westend WMA’s. Our irrigation pivot on the Anderson property has been running to provide supplemental water to our Alfalfa Pivot. Boundary fencing maintenance has been another focal point of the program, this allows Mitigation properties to be utilized by the wildlife by excluding feral animals. Staff participated in the annual grouse surveys. The Program has been facing equipment break downs, but have been fixing them in a timely manner. The program planted 200 beaked hazelnut trees both on and off Mitigation properties to increase forage and wildlife habitat. 

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 17 Forest Practices Applications and 3 Water Type Modifications 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 revisions to the Forest Practices Board Manual Section 21 – Guidelines for Alternate Plans. Revisions to Section 21 will improve guidance for landowners who wish to develop management prescriptions that will achieve resource protection through alternative methods from those prescribed in the forest practices rules.   

Range Program

The Range program continued prepping for the field season by installing gates on pens and corrals, maintaining vehicles, and getting ready for the open range grazing season. We also set up several sagebrush seeding trials throughout the Cayuse burn area and Riverbreaks, which will be used to determine suitable sagebrush restoration sites for future projects. We worked with the Wildlife program to plant over 240 native trees and shrubs, including Beaked Hazelnut and Water Birch in draws and riparian areas. Noxious weed mapping has started for the year, beginning with a collaborative mapping effort with several other agencies to map Flowering Rush, a class A Noxious Weed, on Lake Roosevelt.  

Air Quality

Activity Highlights 

• Monthly calls with National Tribal Air Association as Region 10 representative for WA, ID, and OR Tribes. Two representatives per Air Quality Region (EPA map) 
• 2023 EPA Residential Wood Heating Training Workshop – Hybrid Training – April 11th through 13th 
• Smoke Management in the Northwest – Seattle, WA – APRIL 18th through 20th 
• Radon Poster Contest for Radon Action Month. Participate with Nez Perce, WA, ID, and OR. Completing the last steps by reviewing poster contest entries and choosing winners. 

 Project Highlights/Status 

• Met a few members form other tribal programs which will increase contact list on future problems or collaborations. 

 Grants Report 

• List grants you have, the grant award amount, what the grant is being used to complete, and status of compliance with funding agency. Work has been steady for all the included programs, and work plans remain on schedule. 
• Clean Air Act (CAA) 103 
• $190,000 
• American Rescue Plan Grant (ARP) 
• $51,750 
• Monitor replacement for Spokane Tribe 
• State Indoor Radon Grant (SIRG) 
• $31,000 
• Radon Work 

 Budget Status 

• SIRG was originally for 40k this year but was reduced by 9k before reward. Was informed after budgets went through. Budgets modified but are on track at this time.  
• Update: SIRG received more funding and will increase provided amount to the program by an additional 4k. 

 Community Engagement Activity Highlights 

• No updates for this section. 

 Personnel Status 

Currently the program just has one position with the current workload. As larger grants are being brought to our attention we hope to add more work with additional Personnel but these grants have not been written.  

Challenges/Actions 

• Some days can be fast paced for a single person department, otherwise just keeping up on grant tasks remain in compliance and good standing on current grants.  

Future Projects 

• Large Green House Gas grants are coming down the pipe. We are working together now to see if we can form projects that can benefit the program and the Tribe.  

Preservation

Activity Highlights 

• 4-4- burial removals at Pierre Point 
• 4-5- burial removals at Pierre Point 
• 4-10- P2IP Phase 2 environmental compliance subcommittee technical meeting @WDFD building in Spokane Valley WA. 
• 4-20- SOP Landowner meeting at Admin conference room, forestry, enterprises  
• 4-25- P2IP Phase 2 environmental compliance subcommittee technical meeting @WDFD building in Spokane Valley WA. 

 Project Highlights/Status 

• April 18, 2023- Human Detection Dogs out with STI staff at Mill Creek 
• April 19, 2023- human Detection Dogs out with STI staff at Sand Creek area  
• April 2023: Now that the initial electrical improvements made within the Archives and Collections building and an inspection of the building, STIPP is evaluating the recommended next steps to upgrade the building’s electrical system. Collections Manager attended the initial meeting for the development of a Heritage Emergency Response Network within Spokane County, partnering with other professionals who safeguard cultural and heritage resources to share expertise, support, skillset, engage in training, etc., in preparation of an emergency that could endanger collections.  

 Grants Report 

•  N/A 

Budget Status 

• N/A 

Community Engagement Activity Highlights 

• April 2023: Collections Manager and Collections Assistant presented at the Northwest Archaeological Conference as part of a symposium on public outreach centered around cultural resource management. Collections staff also presented to a group of six homeschool students who receive tutoring at Key Academic & Life Coaching, including three 7th grades and three 11the graders.  

 Personnel Status 

• Arch tech/ boat driver position still trying to be filled, we had to applicants, one got another job and the other dropped out the day of the interview, HR let us know another applicant applied we have interview set up on the 4th of May.  

 Challenges/Actions 

• N/A 

 Future Projects 

• Need to get quotes for new motor for a truck we have. 
• May 4th helping with elders’ dinner at the Wellpinit high school.  
• 3rd quarter BPA meeting 10th & 11th of May 

Forestry and Fire Programs

Forestry Administration

• Prepared sale documents for tribal and allotted timber sales
• Allottee mailings with BIA for Cayuse Settlement
• Continued development of updated Forest History
• Continued TFMS Scaling Software finalization
• Strategy document for timber sale notification

TIMBER SALES

• Road restrictions lifted.
• Contractors did get most of their loads to the mills before the shutdown.
• Crew went to Toppenish for scaling training and rollout.
• Still working on pay increase for employee.
• Studying purchasing procurement policy and procedure.
• Ground is still too soft on sales. Warmer and drier weather should help.
• Mark McCrea is hoping to start on allotment in 2 weeks. Allotment needs to be remarked as paint is old and faded.

FOREST DEVELOPMENT

• 29 pending forestry work contracts; some access slowly returning in certain parts of the project areas. 
• Nursery contract with PRT signed and finalized.  
• Re-certified in CPR/First Aid/AED training. X 2
• Received results of the 2021-2022 cone collection/seed processing. 
• 2023 Spring plant recon and planning ongoing; received seedlings and will begin storage plan 4/26 of 140K seedlings. Planting will begin 5/8, when contractor is available to begin. 
• Equipment maintenance ongoing. 
  • Trailer repair complete
  • Completed annual servicing of tree cooler. 
• 1 x staff completed Annual Safety Refresher and Arduous Pack test; 1 additional staff member will aim to complete 4/27.

PRESALES

• Work continues for the presales crew marking the Crow Hop Project Area.
• Received initial LIDAR data with orthoimagery, Digital Elevation Model, point cloud and canopy height.
• Training new Forester.
• Marking of Crowhop continues.
• Recon of Strike Canyon Completed.
• Updating Allotment Tracking/Mass POA mailing to allottees.
• Guard Cabin plot cruising started.

FIRE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM       

• GIS meeting at fire management and working on Acuity international to get the fire physicals for all red card holders
• working on Acuity international and fire physicals 
• working on guide to critical incidents
• getting a spread sheet to start tracking fire personal with the region 
• working on getting people more training 
• doing our weekly pack tests

FUELS

• Crew thin/chip unit continues.
• Crew mastication ongoing.
• 22 active forest work contracts; admin ongoing we did receive 3 hardship requests though; we’ll be working on those. 
• For the most part we’re gearing up for prescribed fire, checking all equipment and conducting recon in the project areas.  All burn plans have been signed off by the Superintendent, I think we’ll try to start on Friday and work through the weekend, pending staff availability. 
• Also got a draft budget mod worked up for the Fuels Manager Trainee, will submit that tomorrow. 
• Listened in on the BIA NW Region FMO call, a lot of focus on the Consultation for counting tribal wildland fire fte’s that’s coming up on Monday. 

GIS

• finished processing orthoimagery into various mosaic scales and was dispersed.
• Continue updating python scripts for GIS tools.
• Begin researching itemization of AGOL credits per department.
• Begin researching best LiDAR dispersal methods.
• Attended various GIS trainings.
• Assisted departments with GIS troubleshooting.

Preservation Program

Meetings:

• Meeting with Jack Nesbit on Fishing information.
• Arts Committee Meeting-Chewelah hotel
• Two Rivers land slide meeting-Zoom
• Cayuse Cove Microsoft teams meeting
• Lake Roosevelt Project Specific Programmatic Agreement meeting
• WA DNR Wetlands meeting
• SnxwMene Island (Spokane-Riverfront Park)- with planning department
• Spokane Land acknowledgment with MAC & Gena Peone-Zoom

Collections Update:

Educational outreach efforts have continued into the new year, including consultation with a kindergarten teacher at Wellpinit Elementary School in a continued effort to explore possibilities for adapting current and developing new programming geared towards younger age groups. Collections staff will also be participating in a cultural presentation at the Pauline Flett Middle School before the end of the month. In preparation for the opening of the Mistequa Hotel, collections staff will be assisting in a photography session to incorporate cultural resources into the hotel’s interior design. The long-term goal for collections staff to label or re-label artifacts with laser-printed labels is underway, with the aim to improve legibility, object-record association and tracking, and accessibility of the collection.

Anadromous Program

In January 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 continued bi-weekly monitoring of juvenile chinook in net pens in Lake Roosevelt. Prep work for spring monitoring and construction of equipment is ongoing.

Fisheries Program

The month of January fisheries has been focused on equipment preparation and maintenance and continuing the fish health assessments of net pen fish.  Safety and equipment training is ongoing for new staff and those in need of renewals. We continue our participation in regional and national processes and workgroups. Several grant proposals have been awarded and contracts are being finalized.

Hatchery Program

Fish production consisting of:

• 13,800 rainbow trout adults
• 40,000 rainbow trout juveniles
• 985,000 rainbow trout fry

Completed:

• Monthly EPA National Pollution Discharge Monitoring Report
• Final 2024 BPA Pisces Scope of Work Status Report

Attended:

• Annual Lake Roosevelt Coordination Meeting

Other:

• Assisted snow plowing, ongoing operation and maintenance of fish hatchery facilities and grounds.

Spokane Tribal Park Rangers

Thanks to the Roads department for plowing and opening up access to our campgrounds and boat launches. Rangers have checked tribal fishermen and non-tribal permits for fishing have been sold.  Balcombs landing and Cornelius are accessible and have been good fishing for bank anglers.

A few hunters are still active in the pursuit of predators but have had little success to report. Firewood cutters are still gathering anything within a hundred yards of a plowed road.

One Ranger did spend two days participating in the Aerial big game survey in the middle of the month.  One patrol vehicle has been at Wendel for over a month waiting for warranty work to fix the 4×4 system. Equpiment have been ordered and a new vehicle will be placed into service soon.  Also Working on getting a new engine for the Duckworth jet boat.

Rangers are actively searching for training for the next couple months. One ranger is working to be rescheduled for Wildland fire investigation that was cancelled due to Covid.

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 5 Forest Practices Applications 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 Eastside Timber Habitat Evaluation Project (ETHEP). This study will investigate ecological frameworks for applying riparian harvest rules in eastern Washington to achieve forest health, riparian function, and historical disturbance regime objectives.

Wildlife Mitigation

Big Game aerial surveys were conducted on the reservation. Species included in the survey were Elk, Moose, Feral Horses, Whitetail deer, and Mule deer. Wildlife staff also sent off all samples collected throughout 2022 and sent them to WADDL (Washington Disease Detection Lab). Samples were collected to monitor for Chronic Wasting Disease as part of a USDA/APHIS grant. The wildlife program continues to monitor collared animals on the reservation throughout the winter months.

Wildlife Program

During the month of January, the program has been building Clover Traps, the program has developed a plan for spring cover crop plantings, the project map for an upcoming fencing project on Wellpinit Mountain has been finalized. The program has sourced out fruit trees that will be planted in the spring. All maintenance on equipment in preparation for spring has been completed.

Range & Range Ecologist Program

During January 2023, the Range Program worked off season duties such as data entry and analysis for habitat and vegetation surveys; uploaded GPS data related to noxious weed location and various weed treatment trials conducted in 2022; and continued shop inventory and organization. We submitted a funding proposal for noxious weed management projects. We also continued planning projects for the Spring, Summer, and Fall of the upcoming field season, with a focus on range and habitat health.

Forestry Administration

• Completed Silviculture contract to provide training to Forester and Tech staff and provided per-sale services.
• Prepared sale documents for tribal and allotted timber sales.
• invoiced for the volume and stumpage for active sales.
• Researching and reviewing GPS handhelds for programs
• Continued development of updated cutting agreement
• Continued development of updated Forest History

Timber Sales

• Firebreak sale is getting closer to completion. Mark McCrea crew is still out there. Progress is slow but steady.
• Frost Pocket: Redbones are making good progress. Roads were getting pretty soft, but recent freeze should help for a while. Rajewski crew is finally up and going again. They have been broke down for about a month. Will probably not finish their area before break up. Swiger crew has finished their area and will be starting on Mima Mound soon, if contract is approved and signed.  Pioneer left to finish a sale off the reservation. Don’t know when they will be returning to finish cut to length units.
• Allotment 2021: One small homesite left to be done. Del Brown apparently decided he does not want his logged right now due to concerns with his calfs.
• Mima Mound: Held pre-log plan meeting with Forestry, Roads representative, and Enterprise TSO on Tuesday 1/24. Log plan meeting with Enterprise and Frank Swiger took place on Thursday 1/26. I was unable to attend due to illness. Ray and Benny represented Timber Sales. Andrew and Conner represented Pre-Sales.

Forest Development

• 26 active PCT contracts, Kieffer West, Kalesten, Butterfly and Testfire. Access limited due to snow coverage, progress rate reduced.
• Pursuing training opportunities for staff
• Making arrangement for upcoming Regional Forest Development meeting, discussing FD activities with some collaboration with Fuels Programs. 2/13 – 2/17 Travel status.
• Registered all staff for the upcoming IETIC, & Inland Empire Reforestation Council conference 3/7-3/8. We will be on travel status.
• Awarded 3 year Nursery contract to Pacific Regeneration Technologies (PRT). We are in the process of completing contract agreement, and working with CSKT to get our seed shipped over.
• Scheduling upcoming site visit to CSKT Nursery as early as next week to monitor seedling progress, gather information for 2023 planting season, and doing a follow up on our seed stock status.
• Dodge 3500 plow truck is down due to transmission issues. Scheduled diagnostic appointment on Monday 1/30.
• Fire physicals scheduled 1/30 for all those who will be assisting with fire duties for the 2023 season.
• GIS work ongoing in collaboration with Ted, scheduled meeting 1/31
• GIS work ongoing in collaboration with Ted, scheduled meeting 1/31

Presales

Work continues for the presales crew marking the Crow Hop Project Area.

• Foresters are finishing up updating CFI plot information and should finish early next week.
• Rail Creek Prescriptions almost complete, should be able to get these signed off next week.
• Hog Farm FOR (Forest Officers Report) has been completed and awaiting signatures, and a draft contract, prospectus and maps have been completed.
• Pre Log Plan meeting 1/24 and Log Plan Meeting 1/26 happened this week for the Mima Mound Project Area.
• Worked to create a new corner feature class that updated several domains.
• Worked on posting a forester job that was posted on 1/24. Send job announcement to several colleges and job boards.
• Ongoing vehicle maintenance

Fire Management Program

• 1-23 GIS meeting at fire management and working on Acuity international to get the fire physicals for all red card holders.
• Robert started one of his last college fire classes.
• 1-24 still working with Acuity with some of the program fixes.
• 1-25 EMG meeting and working on Acuity and started working on updating the Agency Guide to critical incident management.
• 1-26 Acuity International sent me a fix to some of the problems to start sending out more physicals.

Fuels Program

• Finalized Rx burn plan for Elk Drop
• Drafting budget mod for 4414-1197
• Gathering GIS point data for past wildfires
• Attended Udall Institute webinar on environmental conflict resolution in Indian Country
• Several staff completed online aviation safety training.
• 2 staff members attending terrestrial laser scanning training this week.
• 1 staff member attending L-280 Fire Leadership training this week.
• Ongoing equipment/vehicle maintenance and upgrades

GIS Program

• Finish transfer of orthoimagery data to Airway Heights’ geodatabase
• Troubleshoot Airway Heights computer that will install but not run ArcGIS Pro software.
• Plan out demo day for GIS units from Frontier Precision
• Meet with fire and fuels to discuss GIS plan with the upcoming new fire management plan.
• Meet with forestry to discuss roads layer changes/updates and corners layer management.
• Meet with realty to demonstrate how to use ArcGIS Pro’s version of PageMap.
• Create several realty allotment maps as lack of orthoimagery solution is not quite ready.
• Create orthoimagery file for realty to use with PageMap
• Aid fish & water with historical fire map
• Research best projections for reservation
• Meet with Melodi Wynne (STN) about food sovereignty maps and GIS applications that are needed for food forest project.
• Recreation of historical map of Spokane reservation claim for BJK
• Follow up with NW management about Lidar products and timeline
• Distribute data for BIA realty contractor per STOI Public Works request.

Air Quality

• Radon Action Month (January) stated. Radon poster contest began and runs through the MARCH 10th for Submission Deadline on poster entry.
• NTAA Calls (Mobile Sources, EC Monthly Call, NTAA/EPA Air Policy), WOOD SMOKE WORK GROUP
• Fire Fighting Training – RX310 Introduction to Fire Effects NW 2023 January 23 – 27, 2023
• Help with National Tribal Forum on Air Quality 2023
• Check in with EPA Project Officer on program progress. Quarter 1

https://healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/northwest-radon-poster-contest

or Scan QR Code

Realty Program

• In TAAMS completed the Tribe’s Airway Heights FTT 155.33 acre, LDEV through the GIS Strike Team and the Acting Superintendent completed the CIP (1). We have now moved onto Preparing the Preliminary Title Opinion and Preparing Notice of Application. We are working with the Tribe’s Contractor Acorn Environmental (Bibiana) and the Tribe’s Legal Dept. in obtaining additional information for the letters and requesting the Tribe to look at their Commitment of Title and having some of the information on their Schedule B, Part II Exceptions and Special Exceptions be omitted from the Commitment of Title and then have them prepare a Resolution addressing the items as to whether they are accepting them or will have them removed prior to the Final Opinion of Title.
• Had one response to the Tribe’s HIP Home Letter so far.
• Working on a land exchange and possibly a survey regarding this land exchange.
• Will be requesting 15-20 timber cruises for land exchanges.
• Will be submitting a land exchange to the IRMP ID Team for review/comments.
• Letters were sent out to individuals who still owed their $120.00 Home Site Lease payments for 2022.
• Sent in 2 Home Site Lease requests through the IRMP ID Team for review/comment.

Department of Natural Resources

November Report 2022

Forestry Administration 

• Updating silviculture contract services to provide training to Forester and Tech staff, and provided pre-sale services
• Prepared sale documents for tribal and allotted timber sales
• Issued various permits including Free-use and Paid
• Invoiced for the volume and stumpage for active sales
• Assisted contractor with building floor remodel
• Submit Annual Narrative Reports by 12/2
• Equipment upgrades for GIS Program
• Updating Position Descriptions

TIMBER SALES

• Firebreak- McCrea crew is back in operation and working on missed area. Progress is slow because they only have two people currently working. Third crew member I on elk hunt.
• Allotment 2021- Pioneer has finished with wildlife areas on Elk Drop and moved back to wildlife area on Frost Pocket. They started there this spring, but got mudded out. Phillip fixed corner so they can use new road and not have cross private property.  Only two small allotments will be left to do, they may have a hard time finding to do these due to low volume.
• Frost Pocket- Redbones have returned to work and are getting some loads moved. Swiger is making good production, but are still way behind on slashing. Rajewski has been down all week. Waiting for a skidder or skidder parts.
• New technician started for the Timber sale Program.

FOREST DEVELOPMENT

• PCT activity ongoing in Test Fire, Kieffer West and Kalesten.
  • 26 active contracts.
• Status updates for Forestry Work Contracts in anticipation of a Winter shutdown.
• Vehicle and Equipment maintenance ongoing
• Assisting with snow plowing as necessary.

PRESALES

• As of yesterday (11/29) we completed our Continuous Forest Inventory (CFI) measurement. In total 996 plots were either remeasured or established. This project took almost 2 years and we had help from two different contractors as well as doing a lot of the work ourselves. The next step is to pass the data on to the Branch of Forest Resources and Planning (BOFRP) to compile the data, before we can begin our next Inventory Analysis.
• Presales hired a third technician and now out field crew is fully staffed. Emphasis is on training and familiarization with program duties/goals.
• Our 5-year plan for fiscal year 2023 was completed.
• Timber marking is ongoing for the Guard Cabin Project Area. Will probably get snowed out with this next big storm and will then work on the Crowhop Project Area that is easier to work on in inclement weather.
• Completed 4 realty cruises relating to the ongoing work of the new sewer line/ drain field for Wellpinit.

 

FIRE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM                  

• Fire Management is working on getting a qualified IA dispatch.
• Researching funding opportunities since funding for the Preparedness Program is getting less and less. The seasonal personnel’s time is get cut this year and items in the budget had to be eliminated.
• Reviewing training needs for staff and planning training for Fy2023.
• Performing Equipment Maintenance

FUELS

• 18 Forest Work Contracts at Admin for E.D. Review/Signature

• 9 active Forest Work Contracts, contract admin ongoing
• Potential Admin Shutdown of Contracts for Winter
• Ongoing Vehicle/equipment maintenance
  • heater issues with Textron Prowler UTV
  • side mirrors replacement on SIR 0172, awaiting wiper arm order to come in
• Started 2022 Property Inventory, hope to complete by 12/2
• Draft/Edit/Submit FY2022 BIA Annual Narrative Report by 12/2
• Met with Ted et al. about Wildfire GIS Data
  • will download existing point data from WFMI and Inform to share
• Snow plow driveways on Wellpinit/Joe Sherwood/Elijah Rd route

GIS

• ArcGIS Pro concurrent licenses are now available, please contact April Kaiser (kaiser@spokanetribe.com) to activate license

• Will be transitioning from ArcGIS Desktop to ArcGIS Pro

• Buffalo drive Gisd001’s GIS data folder is now backed up onto Fmgd001 every Sunday.
• Held 1st Steering Committee Meeting for Program Managers and GIS users.

Air Quality

• Proposed Revisions to FARR (Federal Air Rules and Regulations)
• NTAA Calls (Mobile Sources, EC Monthly Call, NTAA/EPA Air Policy)
• Radon Poster Contest Workgroup
• BIENNIAL MEETING EPA/TRIBES REGION 10 (WA, OR, ID) – Seattle, WA Nov 8th – 10^th

Water & Fish

• Reviewed PCB hatchery data
• Met w/ council on adjudication of tribal waters
• ID Team reviews and lead duties
• Retrieved final temperature loggers from streams
• Collected climate change data from Elder surveys
• Electroshock fish Tshimikain -tagging and population assessment
• Plant trees Lane Mountain and install protectors
• Met with Cameron on RCPP Tshimikain Project and collected data on 4 sites
• Met weekly with EPA and Newmont on Midnite
• Sampled community water systems
• Attended climate change symposium at NQ
• Mtg w public works on EPA dump cleanup grant
• Communicated with Water Resource Plan contractor
• Attended BIA climate grant recipient training

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:

• West Valley school district junior class (150 students) Washington State Department of Social and Health Social (DSHS) services, state wide zoom (87 participants) Shadle Park Library ((62 participants) Yasuhura Middle School (43 Middle School students)

Interview/videos:

• Spokane River-Keepers
• Spokane Tribe Casino (Native American Heritage Month)
• Q-6 History information
• KREM 2 assist with STOI History airing

Meetings:

• Eastern Washington State Hospital
• Spokane Conservation District
• Spokane University District
• Leadership Spokane
• Jack Nisbet river history project for Lake Roosevelt Forum
• Various communications (15) on Spokane Tribe history information on curriculum requests

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.