The Idaho Department of Fish and Game formed the Albeni Falls Interagency Work Group in 1985 for the purpose of determining wildlife impacts associated with the construction of the Albeni Falls hydroelectric project. Work Group members include the IDFG, the Kalispel Tribe, the Coeur D'Alene Tribe, the Kootenai Tribe of Idaho and the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers. Once the loss assessments were completed, the group worked collectively to protect, enhance and mitigate wildlife impacts in the Pend Oreille Subbasin. This contract provides for the enhancement, O&M and M&E for all properties managed by the Kalispel Tribe for mitigating impacts at Albeni Falls Dam.  Currently the Tribe owns and manages about 3,000 acres under the Albeni Falls Project.

The properties acquired to date by the Kalispel Tribe fall into two general categories. Those that are conservation type with limited enhancements necessary and those that have high potential habitat value but require active enhancement activities to realize their potential. Active enhancement work for this contract period will take place in the Tacoma/Trimble Management Area. This Management Area is 5 miles north of Cusick Washington along Highway 20 in Township 34 North, Range 43 East Section 36 and Township 33 North, Range 43 East Sections 1,2,11 and 12. Management activities include hydraulic restoration, wetland enhancement and vegetation restoration.

Along with active enhancement activities, this contract will provide for the data collection to provide scientific support for the continuance of these types of enhancement activities on additional properties as they become part of the project.