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DNR NEWS

DNR News

STOI DNR Update-April 2023

May 1, 2023/in DNR News

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.
https://spokanetribe.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/DNR-Logo-NEW_JPEG.jpg 928 1187 Shireen Brigman https://spokanetribe.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Spokane-Tribe-Logo.png Shireen Brigman2023-05-01 15:29:282023-05-01 15:29:28STOI DNR Update-April 2023

STOI DNR Update-February 2023

March 7, 2023/in DNR News

Anadromous Program

In February the Anadromous Program continued winter work mainly consisting of 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. Installation of monitoring equipment has begun.

Fisheries Program

The month of February has been busy with fisheries focused on equipment preparation and maintenance, continued 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. Staff attended aquaculture meeting and prepared grant and contract budgets.

Spokane Tribal 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
  • Revised 2024 BPA Work Element Budget for increased funding.

Other:

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

Spokane Tribal Park Rangers Program

 The Ranger department and Some DNR staff have actively been working on and are near completion of suggested revisions to Ch 17 of the Spokane tribal law and order code.   Ranger department participated in the annual lake Roosevelt ARPA webinar hosted by the national park service. The cold snap has slowed the amount of angler checks for the month. The Bank Fishing has been good and will resume with warmer weather.

The drawdown has begun, and rangers are monitoring the beaches for ARPA violations. Wood cutters are still active in the cottonwood area and Wellpinit mtn logging unit. Predator hunters been in pursuit of Coyotes and cats after every fresh snow. Shed antler season has begun and will continue through the spring months.

All rangers are scheduled to attend the TERO sponsored CPR/AED/First aid training next month. A new patrol vehicle should be in service near the Middle of march. The Duckworth jet boat is in for repairs, The other boat will be placed in service soon after the marina is ice free.

Wildlife and Timber, Fish and Wildlife Programs

Wildlife

In February the Wildlife Program has been primarily focused on trying to capture mule deer. That included setting and checking clover traps and searching for mule deer to free range dart. There are 7 mule deer collars to deploy and so far, we have not been successful. We have caught white-tailed deer and elk in our traps. We are also prepping for the upcoming public wildlife committee meeting at the beginning of March. This includes updating a power point presentation the Wildlife Program gives, with all hunt data, aerial surveys, and project updates. Other office work has included budget modifications, ordering supplies, and entering habitat survey data.

Mitigation

During the month of February, the program has completed building Clover Traps, the program has deployed clover traps, monitoring has been ongoing throughout the month. Staff have been involved in various trainings throughout the month. Shop projects are ongoing. Staff have had two meetings with BPA to discuss contract execution and Land Swap Efforts.

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 10 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 Water Typing Strategy Charter. The CMER Water Typing Strategy includes study development for Potential Habitat Breaks (PHB), Default Physical Criteria (DPC) assessment, LiDAR based water typing models, and fish/habitat detection using eDNA.

Range Program

The Range program continued entering data from various vegetation monitoring plots across the reservation, organized GPS data, and worked on data analyses. This all will help guide projects for the 2023 field season. Local meetings were attended regarding noxious weed control, where the Range program developed several regional partnerships within the Columbia River Basin. The program continued working on projects planning for the upcoming field season, including tree and shrub planting, grass planting, and weed control. The program, with assistance from Federal partners, conducted a feral horse survey across the reservation.

Air Quality Program

  • Radon Poster still running till the end of March.
    • https://healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/northwest-radon-poster-contest
  • Travel to Washington, DC for National Tribal Air Association.
  • National Tribal Forum on Air Quality-Helping with set up for 2023.

Preservation Program

  • 2/6- Internal staff meeting- Planning human detections dogs, collections need, river projects.
  • 2/8- BPA, BOR quarterly meeting all day zoom.
  • 2/10- MAC land acknowledgment with Gena Peone & Tisa Matheson- zoom meeting.
  • 2/14- Lake Roosevelt Project Specific Programmatic agreement
  • 2/16- Zoom meeting with BOR, BPA, NPS- Traditional cultural property meeting.
  • 2/20- Human detection dog bid to contactors
  • 2/23- MAC land acknowledgment with Gena Peone & Tisa Matheson- zoom meeting.
    • HVAC meeting with McKinstry
  • 2/27- ARPA meeting with NPS, STI, CCT-
    • Wake boat meeting with BOR- STI- CCT- NPS

Collections staff assessed student engagement during school presentations, along with the BPA/BOR Deliverable for public education and outreach, and subsequently updated the STIPP Collection and Archives PowerPoint presentation to realign it with STIPP’s outreach program goals. The updated PowerPoint has been used twice this month during presentations with third-grade students at the Libby Center and Roosevelt Elementary School with noticeable improvement in student engagement and interest. Collections staff has also committed time to review and plan building upgrades with a focus on safety for staff and collection materials. Upgrades that are currently in the planning and scheduling phase include inspection of fire extinguishers, electrical updates, a building inspection, and an HVAC upgrade to address humidity control.

Realty Program

  • Waiting for comments from local governments on the Notice of Application Letters sent out for the Spokane Tribe’s Fee to Trust 155.33 acres in Airway Heights, WA.
  • Working with AVSO appraisers to setup conference call with Gregory Richards (Contractor) on 2 appraisals for the Lagoon Right of Way.
  • Working on the Land Titles & Records Project to submit documents and affidavits correcting Title Status Reports.
  • Completed 2 land conveyances and requested NEPA Cat Ex for them through NEPA Tracker.
  • Submitted 2 home site lease requests to the IRMP ID Team for their review/comments.
  • Completed 2 home site leases/approved by resolution-TBC and Acting Superintendent.
  • Bureau of Land Management reviewed 5 legal descriptions for us, which will now be used for land conveyances.
  • Met with the Acting ED/Planning Director and a landowner regarding a possible land purchase in the Wellpinit Area.
  • Met with the Acting Superintendent regarding the Tribe’s Fee to Trust 155.33 acres in Airway Heights and his signature on the numerous Affidavits for the Land Titles & Records Project.
  • Working with Stevens County Title Co. on obtaining Commitment of Titles for the Tribes purchase of undivided fee interests.

Forestry and Fire Programs

Forestry Administration

  • Prepared sale documents for tribal and allotted timber sales
  • Invoiced for the volume and stumpage for active sales.
  • Finalized Cutting Agreement
  • Continued development of updated Forest History
  • Re-initiated TFMS Scaling Software finalization.
  • NWRO Fuels Workshop February 14-16
  • NWRO Forest Development Winter Meeting February 14-16

Timber Sales

  • Full road restriction went into effect, all timber sales temporarily shut down (Breakup). Contractors did get most of their loads to the mills before the shutdown.
  • Firebreak sale is close to completion.
  • Frost Pocket: The sale made great progress before the closure due to the freezing conditions this past winter. The sale looks to be completed by the expiration date.
  • Allotment 2021: One small homesite remains.
  • Mima Mound: Sale ready to begin once Break-up is lifted.

Forest Development

  • 26 Active Forestry Work Contracts, no progress due to snow depth and limited access.
  •  Attended Regional Forest Development Meeting 2/14-2/16.
  •  Upcoming 2 Day Reforestation Conference 3/7-3/8; travel status x3
  • Dodge plow truck back from the shop, still under conditional operation to break the rebuilt transmission in.
  • GIS Organization continues.
  • In process of finalizing a Nursery Services contract with PRT. Working with the PRT and Contracts/Grants to develop a contract that satisfies both parties.
  • New tire for George’s work truck due to puncture that cannot be repaired.
  • Reformatted FD Technician Job Descriptions, 1 signature pending before being finalized and re-submitted.
  • Other daily tasks as needed.

Presales

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

  • Rail Creek prescriptions finished and signed.
  • Hog Farm FOR Completed and Signed
  • Attended INGY co-op meeting.
  • Archiving sales that have been sold recently.
  • Started recon on The Docks Project Area

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 sending out more physicals
  • FMO regional meeting
  • meeting at Bruce Wynne room
  • working on pre work for a training I am going to.

Fuels Program

  • All thin/chip project work (crew/contracts) under snow closure again
  • Budget Mod re-submitted per Compliance request.
  • Updating 4 Yr. Plan of Work in NFPORS per BIA guidance
  • 1 Staff completed S131 FFT1 training.
  • Ongoing vehicle/equipment readiness and repairs

GIS

  • finished processing orthoimagery into various mosaic scales and resolutions (will be dispersed this week)
  • created several requested allotment maps for realty.
  • began parcel layer update.
  • began researching digitization methods for historic topographic maps of the reservation from the 1930s.
  • troubleshot access to Gisd001 buffalo drive for multiple computers.
  • continued correspondence with Frontier Precision for GPS units
https://spokanetribe.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/DNR-Logo-NEW_JPEG.jpg 928 1187 Shireen Brigman https://spokanetribe.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Spokane-Tribe-Logo.png Shireen Brigman2023-03-07 11:11:082023-03-07 11:11:08STOI DNR Update-February 2023

STOI DNR Update-January 2023

February 7, 2023/in DNR News

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.
https://spokanetribe.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/DNR-Logo-NEW_JPEG.jpg 928 1187 Shireen Brigman https://spokanetribe.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Spokane-Tribe-Logo.png Shireen Brigman2023-02-07 11:04:552023-02-07 11:10:58STOI DNR Update-January 2023

STOI DNR-Update December 2022

January 4, 2023/in DNR News

Anadromous 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:

  • 13,800 rainbow trout adults
  • 40,000 rainbow trout juveniles
  • 85,000 rainbow trout fry
  • 900,000 rainbow trout eggs

Completed:

  • Application for 2023 Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) Hatchery Cyclical Maintenance funding
  • BIA Annual Narrative Report
  • Bonneville Power Administration Intergovernmental Agreement for 2023 Operational and Maintenance funding
  • EPA discharge monitoring reporting requirements

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

  • Completed Final Reports for Clean Air Act (CAA) 103 & State Indoor Radon Grant (SIRG).
  • General Air Quality Monitoring-Levels where good over the course of the month of December.
  • No Further Updates.

Forestry Administration

  • Currently 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
  • Invoiced for the volume and stumpage for active sales
  • Assisted contractor with building floor remodel; now completed.
  • Researching and reviewing GPS handhelds for programs
  • Submitted Position Descriptions with signatures

TIMBER SALES

  • Firebreak- harvesting completed. Purchaser planning to do final road maintenance this spring.
  • 2021 Allotment Sale- Pioneer has finished the wildlife area on Frost Pocket. Looking to extend the contract in order to complete the two remaining allotments. The Modification of Contract is awaiting approval.
  • Frost Pocket- All Enterprise Contractors are currently working on the timber sale. The sale is 75% completed.

FOREST DEVELOPMENT

  • PCT activity ongoing in Butterfly, Test Fire, Kieffer West and Kalesten.
    • 26 active contracts.
    • Anticipation of a Winter shutdown.
  • Vehicle and Equipment maintenance ongoing
  • Nursery Services RFB out, closes January 4, 2023.
  • Assisting with snow plowing as necessary.

PRESALES

  • Continued Continuous Forest Inventory (CFI) measurement error checking. 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.
  • Continued training and familiarization with program duties/goals for new employee.
  • Timber marking is ongoing for the Guard Cabin Project Area and Crowhop Project Area.

 

FIRE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM

                    

  • Continue working on getting a qualified IA dispatch.
  • Continue researching funding opportunities since funding for the Preparedness Program is getting less and less.
  • Continue reviewing training needs for staff and planning training for FY2023.
  • Performing Equipment Maintenance
  • Assisting with snow plowing as necessary.

FUELS

  • 28 active Forest Work Contracts, admin ongoing
    • Potential Admin Shutdown of Contracts for Winter
  • Ongoing Vehicle/equipment maintenance
  • Snow Plow Assistance
  • Elk Drop Rx Burn Plan draft finalized, technical review pending
  • Cut/delivered 1 load of firewood to Boys/Girls Club
  • Cut/delivered 1 load of firewood to Boys/Girls Club
  • Intertribal Timber Council calls
    • USDA/DOI Solicitors analysis of co-stewardship with tribes
    • BLM Information Bulletin for guidance on wildfire risk reduction through tribal partnerships
    • DOI working on tribal inclusion for firefighter retention pay
    • BIA BIL funding opportunities
    • BIA updating wildland firefighter standard PD’s for new job series (moving out of 401 series)
    • Udall Foundation update on 2023 Webinar Series on Tribal Inclusion and Equity
    • IFMAT IV update, draft review should be out in spring ’23

GIS 

  • ArcGIS Pro concurrent licenses are now available, please contact April Kaiser (april.kaiser@spokanetribe.com) to activate license
  • Transition from ArcGIS Desktop to ArcGIS Pro underway
  • Continue Buffalo drive Gisd001’s GIS data folder backed up onto Fmgd001 every Sunday.
  • Researched GPS Field Handhelds for all Programs

Preservation

  • Meetings- Arts commission meeting for Mistequa hotel- 2 separate meetings 12-5 & 12-19
  • Stone hammer return to tribe- home owner found stone hammer at their house, wanted to return to tribe- 12-12
  • Lake Roosevelt Project specific programmatic agreement meeting & document review
  • BOR- meeting/ Two Rivers slide 12-14
  • Jack Nesbit presentation meeting- 12-28

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.

https://spokanetribe.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/DNR-Logo-NEW_JPEG.jpg 928 1187 Shireen Brigman https://spokanetribe.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Spokane-Tribe-Logo.png Shireen Brigman2023-01-04 09:23:102023-01-04 09:23:10STOI DNR-Update December 2022

STOI DNR Update-November 2022

December 2, 2022/in DNR News

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 – 10th

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.

https://spokanetribe.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/DNR-Logo-NEW_JPEG.jpg 928 1187 Shireen Brigman https://spokanetribe.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Spokane-Tribe-Logo.png Shireen Brigman2022-12-02 12:17:112022-12-02 13:09:52STOI DNR Update-November 2022

Department of Natural Resources Update – 10/22

November 4, 2022/in DNR News, Rawhide Press

Department 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

https://spokanetribe.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/DNR-Logo-NEW_JPEG.jpg 928 1187 brodie ford https://spokanetribe.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Spokane-Tribe-Logo.png brodie ford2022-11-04 14:47:322022-11-04 14:47:32Department of Natural Resources Update – 10/22

Burn Ban in Effect

July 27, 2022/in DNR News, Rawhide Press

https://spokanetribe.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/STOI_Black2_500-e1658273008827.jpg 381 387 aaron scott https://spokanetribe.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Spokane-Tribe-Logo.png aaron scott2022-07-27 15:40:572022-07-27 15:40:57Burn Ban in Effect

Fire Danger Level Set to HIGH

July 19, 2022/in DNR News, Rawhide Press

Fire Danger for 2022 is officially set to “HIGH” on the Spokane Indian Reservation. Please be safe!

https://spokanetribe.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/STOI_Black2_500-e1658273008827.jpg 381 387 aaron scott https://spokanetribe.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Spokane-Tribe-Logo.png aaron scott2022-07-19 15:49:232022-07-19 16:25:48Fire Danger Level Set to HIGH

2022 Hunting Regulations

July 5, 2022/in Daily News, DNR News, Rawhide Press

Approved 2022 Hunting Regulations

Please click link below to download Regulations.

| Hunting Regs 2022 |

https://spokanetribe.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/DNR-Logo-NEW_JPEG.jpg 928 1187 Shireen Brigman https://spokanetribe.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Spokane-Tribe-Logo.png Shireen Brigman2022-07-05 14:53:002022-07-05 14:55:562022 Hunting Regulations
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