| Year | Accomplishment |
|---|
| 1998 |
Formed or revitalized 5 citizen-based watershed planning organizations for five key sub-drainages in the basin completing one implementable watershed plan for Grave Creek and made important progress on four other plans. |
| 1998 |
Secured FEMA funding ($400,000) for an effort by County, City, homeowners, USFS, NRCS, MFWP, USFWS, Montana DOT, local schools and several private organizations, to reconstruct a major portion of Parmenter Creek to a stable form. |
| 1998 |
Coordinated a FEMA remapping of Libby, Big Cherry, Granite, Parmenter, Flower Creeks with the Libby Area Conservancy District, North Cabinet Conservancy District USACOE and USFS. |
| 1998 |
Coordinated a Rosgen level III and IV geomorphic survey of Libby Creek and collection of cross sectional data needed to run HEC II modeling necessary to develop a channel design which will return much of Libby Creek to its proper functioning condition. |
| 1998 |
Coordinated the development and design of implementable plans to screen bull trout from the Glen Lake Irrigation Ditch on Grave Creek, the most important bull trout spawning trib. in the U.S. portion of the Upper Kootenai. |
| 1998 |
Instituted and coordinated an international effort with BC Environment to monitor bull trout populations in the Wigwam River /Lake Koocanusa complex. |
| 1998 |
Directed a morphological survey of the unstable lowest three miles of Grave Creek necessary to design a naturally functioning channel. The survey and design will give the local watershed group a critical tool to garner funding to implement the design. |
| 1998 |
Participated in initial planning for the rehabilitation of the tributaries to the Pleasant Valley Fisher River on the Lost Trail and Monk properties by the USFWS and NRSC. |
| 1998 |
Negotiated a 1.25 mile riparian corridor and channel reconstruction of Therriault Creek where the creek is currently deeply incised, and unstable (part of Tobacco River Drainage which also includes the important Grave and Sinclair Creeks). |
| 1998 |
Negotiated for the fencing and riparian planting of several miles of overgrazed westslope cutthroat trout habitat on Young Creek (important recovery tributary to reservoir) and won approval to reconstruct a one mile segment of channelized stream. |
| 1998 |
Initiated the halt of tributary stocking of fingerling westslope cutthroat trout into Young Creek and replaced this with remote site incubator (RSI) seeding of the creek. |
| 1999 |
Formalized cooperative agreement with stake holders on Grave Creek, Therriault Creek. |
| 2000 |
Formalized MOU with Lincoln Co. for the restoration of Parmenter Creek. |
| 2000 |
Formalized MOU with the Kootenai River Network for site planning in Libby Creek, Big Cherry Creek and Pleasant Valley Fisher River |
| Objective | Task | Duration in FYs | Estimated 2001 cost | Subcontractor |
|---|
| 1. Compile information on limiting factors to native fish and wildlife production in the watershed area. |
a. Utilize existing aquatic habitat surveys, riparian habitat surveys, aquatic population surveys, and other relevant biological and land use surveys to identify and address limiting factors. |
|
$4,500 |
|
|
b. Identify gaps in knowledge that hamper sound management decisions. Coordinate and direct mitigation projects and coordinate with other agencies to design and adaptively implement monitoring strategies to fill the gaps. |
|
$10,000 |
|
|
c. Determine influences of federal, state, tribal, and private land management on identified limiting factors. |
|
$5,000 |
|
| 2. Coordinate cooperative implementation and funding of activities directed to watershed improvement by different interest groups and agencies in focus watershed area. |
a. Determine the ownership and the influence of federal, state, tribal and private interests (i.e. water rights, etc.) on the lands that are identified as core recovery areas for native species and where limiting factors might best be addressed. |
|
$4,250 |
|
|
b. Facilitate the forming of local citizen watershed groups in sub-drainages that have been identified as core native species recovery areas, giving priority to core areas identified in Montana's Bull Trout Recovery Plan. |
|
$4,250 |
|
|
c. Empower these groups with FWP's professional expertise and resources necessary to develop implementable watershed plans that address the limiting factors for native species and meet the needs of local communities. |
|
$4,250 |
|
|
d. Once local sub-basin plans are formed by working groups, identify potential financial and physical resources available to implement plans. Solicit the resources necessary and secure mitigation assistance towards implementing the local watershed plans. |
|
$4,250 |
|
|
e. Compile a list of human and fiscal resources that are potentially available for protection and recovery of habitat for the model watershed. Include potential federal, tribal, state local government and private resources. |
|
$4,250 |
|
|
f. Direct the implementation of watershed plans and assist with stream habitat improvements on Grave, Libby, Therriault, Young, Parmenter, Flower, and Bobtail Creeks. |
|
$4,250 |
|
|
g. Provide for the involvement of volunteers, landowners and educational institutions in the implementation of projects. |
|
$4,250 |
|
|
h. Provide coordination and leadership to integrate watershed-based fish and wildlife habitat improvement projects, research and monitoring activities in the Kootenai River basin. |
|
$4,250 |
|
|
i. Maintain a technical advisory committee of the best qualified fluvial geomorphology and fish and fish/wildlife professionals from state, tribal and federal agencies and consultants to advise watershed groups and others performing stream alterations. |
|
$4,250 |
|
|
j. Assist agencies, tribes and groups to find cooperative funding for habitat improvement projects. |
|
$4,250 |
|
|
k. Promote the formation of a network of professionals and citizens in each subbasin to help integrate landscape watershed planning. |
|
$4,250 |
|
|
l. Prepare NEPA documentation and permits necessary for watershed plan implementation. |
|
$4,250 |
|
| 3. Maintain a communication network among private and public groups, including planning and fund raising agencies, interested in fish and wildlife issues in the focus watershed area. |
a. Provide quarterly reports and/ or newsletter/webpage to inform concerned parties of activities and progress of watershed activities. Prepare and distribute annual report of activities. |
|
$9,500 |
|
| 4. Manage an effective volunteer Lakes Monitoring Program. |
a. Provide technical and grant writing assistance for volunteer monitors and assist their efforts to compile lake water quality data. Provide leadership in identifying and soliciting funding for implementation of the water quality design. |
|
$2,500 |
|
| 5. Transfer successful watershed planning and implementation processes to other watersheds in Montana and the northwest. |
a. Update the document that will be used by districts or committees in the future as a guide for watershed resource management. The document will include funding sources, criteria for rating proposals, and a list of expert advice sources. |
|
$1,000 |
|
| 6. Coordinate with local, regional and national planning and funding agencies (e.g. NWPPC, BPA, NRCS, USDA and others) to assure cooperative planning and implementation of model watershed activities. |
a. Contact the BPA and NWPPC planning staffs as often as needed, but no less than once per quarter to keep them informed of the progress in planning for implementation process. |
|
$5,000 |
|
| 7. Negotiate and implement permanent easements and long-term management agreements in riparian corridors of key sub-basins to protect investments in stream habitat improvements. |
a. Identify landholders and agencies that may be willing to create permanent and long-term riparian corridors for fish and wildlife adjacent to core recovery areas identified in the Montana Bull Trout Recovery Plan (MBTRT 1998). |
|
$5,000 |
|
|
b. Negotiate and coordinate agreements with state, federal, tribal and private organizations to place these riparian corridors under permanent and long -term protection from threats to their natural function (e.g. subdivision, channelization). |
|
$5,000 |
|
This information was not provided on the original proposals, but was generated during the review process.