STOI DNR Update-May 2023

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Lake Roosevelt Fisheries Programs

Fisheries Program

Submitted by: Brent Nichols

Activity Highlights 

  • Continued Northern Pike Suppression in Lake Roosevelt 
  • Completed Net Pen Fish Health Checks 
  • Released Net Pen Fish to Lake Roosevelt 
  • Began release of Chinook smolts. 
  • Boat maintenance and prep 
  • BPA Project Negotiations 

 Project Highlights/Status 

  • Project staff continue annual suppression and removal of Northern Pike from Lake Roosevelt. 
  • Staff continued releasing Chinook smolts through the Phase 2 Implementation Plan.
  • Project staff attended the First Salmon Ceremony at Chief Joseph Hatchery.
  • Staff completed several resolution and equipment purchases. 
  • Continuing annual water quality monitoring surveys and data collection. 

 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 

  • Completed Student Discovery Week. 
  • Preparing for Glover Middle School (80) students for fisheries tour and Spokane Tribal history discussion on May 30th. 
  • Participated in regional coordination meetings included: 
  • FMCS 
  • Columbia Basin Collaborative group 
  • Northwest Power and Conservation Council 
  • Blocked Area Anadromous Working Group 

 Personnel Status 

  • Interviewed for a full time fisheries technician, completing hiring process. 
  • Need 2 seasonal Fisheries Technicians. Document submitted, Posting closed May 23rd. 
  • 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 being developed. 

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. 

Anadromous Program

Submitted by: Conor Giorgi

Activity Highlights

  • Columbia River Treaty participation
  • Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service participation
  • Juvenile Chinook survival study – fish releases, data downloads
  • Adult release planning
  • CTCR First Salmon Ceremony

Project Highlights/Status

  • “Pilot Study” juvenile chinook acoustic survival study (80%) – August 2023
  • Year 1 of PIT juvenile Chinook survival study, fish released (90%) – August 2023

Grants Report

  • Bureau of Reclamation Cooperative Agreement FY24 – FY28 ($556,430). Technical staff and field operations for ongoing and planned reintroduction activities. Application submitted, final agreement pending.
  • WA Legislature FY24 – FY25 ($3 million). UCUT P2IP and salmon rearing planning and design. Funding approved, in contracting process.

Budget Status

  • TBD

Community Engagement Activity Highlights

  • Spokane River Forum conference, one plenary presentation and two technical presentations.
  • Interview with EWU student for Inlander publication.
  • CTCR First Salmon Ceremony presentation.

Personnel Status

  • Permanent Fisheries Technician II. Funding being secured with a cooperative agreement with Bureau of Reclamation. Needed to support reintroduction activities.
  • Communications and Outreach staff. Job description being drafted. Necessary for more thorough outreach and public engagement associated with reintroduction effort.
  • Habitat Biologist. Funding being pursued, job description being drafted. Needed to support Lead Entity development.

Challenges/Actions

  • Complete and correct templates to assist with administrative duties – e.g., tribal budgeting template.
  • Project management training, templates, and/or software to ensure adequate project tracking and reporting as requested by leadership.

Future Project

  • Cultural and educational salmon releases. BPA, project proposal being developed.
  • Salmon rearing facilities scoping and designs. Congressionally directed spending, WA State Legislature.

Hatchery Program

Activity Highlights

  • Released 4,695 triploid rainbow trout below Little Falls Dam including floy tagged fish to support Spokane Tribal Fisheries hatchery effectiveness monitoring.
  • Stocked 4,788 triploid rainbow trout in reservation lakes include floy tagged fish to support 2023 Spokane Tribal Fishing Derby.
  • Fish production @ 37,500 triploid rainbow trout yearlings; 720,000 triploid rainbow trout fingerlings.

Project Highlights/Status

  • 2023 Spokane Tribal Fishing Derby April 29-June 4, 2023, see posts of derby on social media Face book Link à https://www.facebook.com/SpokaneTribalFishingDerby/
  • $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.

Water & Fish Program

Activity Highlights

  • Rainey property planted, protectors, watered
  • Dawn Mill site property planted, watered
  • ECY contract- Tekoa replanted/protectors 60 large trees
  • Completed snow pack surveys
  • Screw trap and antennae array operations on Tshimikain Creek
  • Flows and IC/turbidity samples; TDG monitoring Spokane River
  • Meetings- Midnite Mine, NRDA, Lead Entity, VSP, Floodplains by Design, INLC, SRF, UCUT, WRMP, Climate Plan, Sand/Blue Climate Planning, EPA-Toxics Program Grant

Project Highlights/Status

  • Selected for Columbia River Toxics Grant (2M)
  • Submitted for minor increases in 319 base and 106 FY24 grant amounts
  • ECY Chamokane Creek Flow mitigation agreement signed
  • Submitted for NFWF America the Beautiful preliminary grant application-RE Chamokane Plan

Grants Report

PROGRAM 

FUND # 

Used to Complete

 AWARD AMOUNT

or 23 BUDGET

STATUS 
BIA Chamokane Temperature Study 4414-1279  Water Resources Mgmt Plan  $130,944.00   
BIA Chamokane Watermaster 4414-1276 Chamokane Watermaster Services $22,568.00
BIA Climate Resilience and Adaptation Plan 4444-1386  Reservation Climate Resilience and Adaptation Plan $150,000.00
BIA Climate Adaptation Plan (Blue & Sand Creeks 4414-1397 Climate Adaptation Plan for Blue Creek & Sand Creek $199,530.00
Dept ECY Terry Hussman WQ Improvements 3095-1388  Maintain Lan Mnt. Tekoa, Spangle, Little Spokane Restorations Projects $50,000.00 Behind on Billing
Dept ECY DIF WQ Improvement Project 3094-1388 Maintain EYC Implemented Projects and Plan for New Projects $67,867.00
Avista-Environmental Mitigation Project 2016-1135 Mitigation for WQ Impacts from Avista’s Spokane River Projects $257,867.00
EPA 106 WQ 5416-1226 WQ Monitoring, Meetings, Outreach $142,500.00
EPA GAP 5416-1228 ID Team Coordination, Environmental Enforcement, Admin $155,000.00
EPA GAP Special Project 5416-1228 Dawn Mill Passive Treatment Study $50,000.00
EPA Multipurpose Grant  5416-1372 Tribal EWS, 401 Certs, NPDES Permits $12,459.00
EPA 319 Nonpoint Source Pollution 5416-1227 Implement NPS Management Plan $151,512.00
BPA Joint Stock Assessment 5709-1243 Conduct Fisheries Research on Designated Waters $75,000.00
Midnite Mine Oversight Project 2005-1127 Technical Oversight of Midnite Mine Remedy Implementation $1,056,337.00
Dawn Mill Closure 2005-1297 Technical Oversight of Dawn Mill Cleanup $298,879.00
NRCS-Hansen 4021-1341 NPS Project on Chamokane at Hansens $12,035.00
BIA Midnite Mine Stream Gauging 4411-1181 NRDA Assessment and Preparation (Old Budget) $51,334.00
BIA Midnite Mine NRDAR 4412-1181 NRDA Assessment and Preparation (New Budget) $63,033.00
Tribal Water Resources 1000-1113 Conduct Community Water System Sampling, Dock and Ramp Construction and Maintenance, Travel and Training. $1,056,337.00
    TOTAL:  $2,962,759.00  

Budget Status 

  • None overspent, still waiting on BIA to input funds 4412-1181 ~$55K 

 Community Engagement Activity Highlights 

  • Hosted “kids in the creek” and a local 5th grade field day for local schools 
  • Presented at Reardan 3rd grade- aquatic macroinverts and water quality 
  • Held Midnite Mine public meeting 
  • Presented at SRF conference 
  • Presented redband update to Trout Unlimited 

Personnel Status 

  • Water & Fish Technician I opening-3-6 months;  advertising in June, budget mods needed 

Challenges/Actions 

  • Limited staff to plant during short planting window.   
  • Many grant opportunities, not enough staff time to complete current tasks and apply for new grants- solution-  grant proposal triage  

Future Projects 

  • Watering trees, and knocking down weeds on all restoration sites (Lane Mnt, Rainey, Bradford, Dawn Mill, Tekoa,  
  • Spangle fence, horse crossing and water line 
  • DO monitoring Spokane River 
  • Fencing and trees Morrell’s property on Chamokane Creek 
  • Floodplain restoration project- Camas Valley-  EPA, WA Conservation Commission 
  • RCPP Tshimikain Watershed Project  
  • Sand Creek habitat and fish surveys 
  • Temperature loggers 

 

ST Park Rangers

Submitted by: Bart Kieffer

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.

Project Highlights/Status-Nothing to report

Grants Report-Nothing to report

Budget Status-Nothing to report

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.

Future Projects-Nothing to report

 

Wildife/TFW Programs

Wildife Mitigation Program

The wildlife mitigation crew have finished planting our spring cover crops. These cover crops included an Oats/ Barley mix, oats, Spring Wheat, and Canola/ Pea/ Radish Mix. The weather heavily affected our farming because of wet soil on the Westend WMA’s. Our irrigation pivot on the Anderson property has been running to provide supplemental water to our Alfalfa Pivot, in May we applied over 5 inches of water. Noxious weed control has been and will be a focal point of the program throughout the summer. We have begun mechanical and chemical removal of invasive weeds in our cover crop and rangeland. We will continue to mow fields and roads throughout Mitigation properties. The program planted 150 fruit trees in the Anderson Orchard.

TFW Program

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 34 Forest Practices Applications and 5 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) and the Instream Scientific Advisory Group (ISAG). This month the AMP held its annual Cooperative Monitoring, Evaluation, and Research Committee (CMER) Science Conference which highlighted CMER studies covering a variety of research topics and cultivated discussion between stakeholders throughout the state. Topics covered included water typing, monitoring strategies, deep seated landslide classification, and water quality responses to forest management.

Wildlife Program

The wildlife program has begun processes again to continue our Black bear research. Currently we are baiting bears into ideal spots for trapping near known calving grounds. Bears are now coming in regularly and trapping will begin this week. The wildlife program also submitted for another BIA youth Initiative grant to continue with the habitat vegetation surveys as well as another CWD Grant through the USDA/APHIS. This aims to assist with CWD monitoring, planning, and completion of exclusion fencing for a CWD carcass disposal pit. In addition, tribal biologists traveled to Denver for the 9th annual international CWD symposium. The wildlife program continues to monitor for wolves using motion sensing camera traps.

 

Range/Range Mitigation Program

Submitted by: Wendal Kane

The Tribal open grazing period began on May 1st, 2023, with two ranchers utilizing the opportunity to graze their cattle, with a possibility of one more rancher signing at a later date. The Range Program replaced gates on a holding pen and corral for use by tribal ranchers. Program staff have verified cattle counts, and worked to keep cattle off of highways and within their appropriate grazing units. Following surveys from April, the program treated around 5 acres of Flowering Rush, a class A noxious weed that threatens Salmon habitat. The treatments were successful, though retreatment will be required for several years for total eradication. Previous tree and seed plantings were evaluated and maintained via watering and deer repellent applications. Ongoing projects such as noxious weed mapping, feral horse counts, equipment maintenance, and project planning continued through the month.

Air Quality Program

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)
  • NATIONAL TRIBAL FORUM ON AIR QUALITY
    • MAY 1st – 5th, 2023
  • Mandatory Training on Workers Comp
  • NTAA Roles and Responsibilities call

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 Program

Submitted by: John Matt

Activity Highlights

  • May 2nd- Meeting with Planning at Preservation office.
  • May 4th elders’ dinner helping senior center staff.
  • May 8th- meeting with staff to go over damage assessment at Blue Creek Campground
  • May 10- BPA, BOR quarterly meeting in Wellpinit all day
  • May 11- BPA, BOR quarterly meeting all day-
  • May 11- Water in the basement of the preservation office
  • May 17- Zoom meeting with Snoqualmie cultural resource staff.
  • May 18th- Road Clean up.
  • May 25th- BPA Scope or work FY 24 meeting all day.

Project Highlights/Status

May 2023: Collections staff assisted the archaeological team in the survey at Sand Bar and data recovery at Blue Heron. With concerns both internally and within the collections care community at-large about potential disasters and our preparedness to successfully respond and recover from those events, we are continuing our participation and collaboration with other cultural heritage professionals in Spokane to develop a heritage emergency response network in Spokane County (tentatively named SHEPARD – the Spokane Heritage Emergency Preparedness and Response Division).

Grants Report

Quarterly update

Budget Status

May 2023: After hearing about our presentation at the Flett Middle School in February 2023 from another teacher within the Spokane Public School system, STIPP collections staff were asked to present to the Odyssey Program’s highly capable and gifted students at their annual Camp Reed. Collections staff led two sessions over the course of two days at the camp.

Personnel Status

Filled the Arch tech job on May 11th, new employee started on the 14th.

Challenges/Actions

None to report currently.

Future Projects

Working on FY 24 scope of work and budget for Bonneville Power Administration

 

Forestry and Fire Management Programs

Forestry Administration

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

TIMBER SALES

  • Two crews may try logging later this week if we don’t get too much rain.
  • Ray’s work truck is currently in the shop.
  • Ground is beginning to dry out but more rain predicted today and maybe tomorrow.
  • Roads still have some soft spots.
  • Pioneer started cutting on cut to length units on Frost Pocket this morning.
  • McCrea crew has not started on allotment yet, but his processor is out there.
  • Have not been able to contact Jim SiJohn yet about hauling out that road. Myself and Ray have both been to his house several times. Will keep trying.
  • Mima is ready to go.
  • Redbones and Rajewski areas on Frost Pocket are still too wet.

FOREST DEVELOPMENT

  • 2019 Ford F-250 recall work being scheduled and completed via Wendle. X2
  • 29 Forestry Work Contracts active; administration ongoing.
  • 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 Complete. 140K seedlings over an estimated 350+ acres of post wildfire (Carpenter Road) and post-harvest project areas (Test Fire/Fire Break).
    • Planting cleanup as well as other Post Plant procedures ongoing.
  • Equipment maintenance ongoing.
    • Trailer repair complete
    • Completed annual servicing of tree cooler.
    • ATV work up and servicing ongoing.
  • 2 x staff completed Annual Safety Refresher and Arduous Pack test.
  • Participated in Annual Reservation Clean-Up Day 5/18
  • Unit recon and prep ongoing in Aspen Grove, Fire Break, as well as a few other cleanup site prep units in various project areas.

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

  • helping with RX burns
  • working on budget for the region
  • Pack test and refresher for qualified people on 5-25
  • had interview for a FFT2 position
  • getting ready for the fire review with the region in June

FUELS

  • Ongoing forest work contract administration
  • Cancelled bid opening for masticating units due to cost discrepancy
  • Rx Burning ongoing
    • implementation at Boardman Road and Elk Drop
    • plan writing for Frost Pocket
  • RFQ for new mulching/masticating attachment for skid steer
  • Work on staff/crew BIA budget request for FY2024
  • 2 staff attending WA DNR Fire Academy
  • 2 staff attending Fire/Fuels Monitoring Workshop

GIS

  • Continue creating mosaics for canopy height model data from lidar
  • Continue creating mosaics for digital elevation model data from lidar
  • Continue creating contour layer from digital elevation model data from lidar
  • Troubleshoot license acquisition for Pathfinder and ArcGIS Pro
  • Deployed reference PDF for workflows using ArcGIS Pro on Gisd001 buffalo drive
  • Other daily tasks