Nez Perce Tribe Department of Fisheries Resource Management Nez Perce Tribe / Nez Perce National Forest Partnership Overview February 3, 2011 Watershed Division

NPT DFRM Watershed Mission The DFRM Watershed Division mission is to protect and restore watersheds and fisheries resources throughout Nez Perce Territory, which are critical for future generations. This work has its roots in protecting tribal sovereignty and treaty rights reserved under the Treaty of These activities are accomplished using a holistic approach, which encompasses entire watersheds, ridge-top to ridge-top, emphasizing all cultural aspects.

“RIDGE-TOP TO RIDGE-TOP”

Nez Perce Tribe Treaty Territory 13.3 Million Acres (Tribe owns approx. 150,000 Acres) 3 States 6 National Forests / BLM 12 Counties Private Landowners

Cooperative Restoration: Forest Service and Nez Perce Tribe Nez Perce Tribe and Clearwater & Nez Perce Forests began cooperative aquatic restoration in Nez Perce Tribe and Clearwater & Nez Perce Forests began cooperative aquatic restoration in External funding from BPA and Idaho State Office of Species Conservation and others.External funding from BPA and Idaho State Office of Species Conservation and others. The Forests and Tribe have aligned restoration priorities; cooperative work is in high priority watersheds, focused on anadromous fish.The Forests and Tribe have aligned restoration priorities; cooperative work is in high priority watersheds, focused on anadromous fish. The cooperative restoration program is integrated with the Forests’ integrated management projects.The cooperative restoration program is integrated with the Forests’ integrated management projects. The Forests and Tribe work together explore and expand cooperative approaches to accomplish restoration projects efficiently and effectivelyThe Forests and Tribe work together explore and expand cooperative approaches to accomplish restoration projects efficiently and effectively

Clearwater and Nez Perce National Forests Restoration Priority Map

Restoration Partnership Goals Improve / protect water qualityImprove / protect water quality Improve / protect fish habitatImprove / protect fish habitat Restore land to productionRestore land to production Recover TES speciesRecover TES species Protect fish habitat and produce more fishProtect fish habitat and produce more fish

Partnership Projects Road DecommissioningRoad Decommissioning Barrier Culvert ReplacementBarrier Culvert Replacement Road and Culvert InventoriesRoad and Culvert Inventories Road and Culvert Risk Assessment and ImprovementRoad and Culvert Risk Assessment and Improvement Stream channel RestorationStream channel Restoration Native RevegetationNative Revegetation Weed Inventory and TreatmentWeed Inventory and Treatment Riparian RestorationRiparian Restoration FencingFencing Off-site watering systemOff-site watering system Streambank stabilizationStreambank stabilization Project MonitoringProject Monitoring

FS / NPT / BPA Interaction Forest Cost-share Provincial Review Biological Opinion (Biop)

Lower South Fork Clearwater River Project Project area –Meadow Creek to Silver/Legget Project Leader –Mark Johnson Types of work –Road Decommissioning –Culvert Replacement –Cattle Exclusion Fencing –Riparian Planting

Slate Creek Project Project area –Slate Creek Watershed Project Leader –Stephanie Bransford Types of work –Culvert Replacement –Riparian Planting Hoping to expand project objectives through provincial review process

Where do we go from here? Currently have very successful restoration partnership. –How do we maintain this given the increase in project funding and organizational structures of NPT & NPNF/CNF?