Intent of this Scope of Work
This Scope of Work was developed in response to the Bonneville Power Administration's and the Northwest Power and Conservation Council's approval of a Within-Year Budget Modification requesting $500,000 in expense funding for 2002-045-00 in FY2006.  This budget modification allows the acquisition of conservation easements on priority westslope cutthroat trout streams.  The easements are essential to protect streams and wetlands that will contribute to the recovery of the native westslope cutthroat trout on the Coeur d'Alene Indian Reservation.  Further, the easements will allow access to habitats for restoration and enhancement activities that will occur through the Coeur d'Alene Tribe's Project to Implement Fisheries Enhancement on the Coeur d'Alene Reservation (BPA #199004400).  These easements (management rights acquisitions) are essential to ongoing efforts to bolster native resident fish populations as substitution for anadromous fish losses that are due to establishment of the Federal Columbia River Hydropower System.

Action Implemented by this Scope of Work

In attempts to address a gap that remains in our ability to effectively enhance resident fish habitat, the Coeur d'Alene Tribe intends to pursue purchase of conservation easements to lands currently managed for their timber values within the Target Watersheds on the Coeur d'Alene Indian Reservation.  The Coeur d'Alene Tribe holds ongoing negotiations with Potlatch Corporation to improve habitats within both "stronghold" headwater habitats (Peters and Vitale 1998) and habitats that have a high potential to support "stronghold" habitats.  Without the benefit of conservation easements there are no incentives for Potlatch to protect streams beyond what is legally mandated.  In 2004, Potlatch Corporation negotiated easements through the Federal Forest Legacy Program to protect the "view shed" of the St. Joe Basin, maintain the culture and economics of the rural communities, and preserve wetland and riparian habitats.  Because of the benefits that these easements have brought to all the parties involved, Potlatch Corporation is willing to negotiate easements on holdings within the Coeur d'Alene Reservation.

Potlatch Corporation and the Coeur d'Alene Tribe have identified several parcels in the Benewah Watershed where westslope cutthroat trout habitats would benefit from protection measures beyond those legally mandated.  Conservation easements on these properties would allow the Coeur d'Alene Tribe to access these habitats in order to continue westslope cutthroat trout protection and restoration activities.  The economic climate is ripe for pursuing these easements and the recent success in negotiating easements by the Federal Forest Legacy Program has resulted in a ready template that can be modified according to the parcel and the habitat needs of the cutthroat trout populations.  

Given that these parcels contain timber resources, and the specific needs within each parcel varies according to landscape and stream habitat configurations, specific monetary amounts for specific parcels cannot be confidently stated.  The value of an easement will be determined by completion of two appraisals on each identified parcel or cluster of parcels.  The first appraisal will identify the value of the land and timber resources according to current market values.  The second appraisal will identify the value of the land and timber resources given the restrictions of the easement covenants.  The monetary investment for the easement is the difference in value of the land and timber without the easement minus the value with the easement.  The covenants of the easements may include restrictions on subdivision, development, road construction, timber harvest, extraction rights, and livestock grazing.  The rights to conduct restoration activities and protect the resulting habitats will be included on properties that warrant this activity.  

Given the need to pursue easements in headwater habitats and the extent of the opportunity that is available, the Coeur d'Alene Tribe is contracting $500,000 in expense funding from the Bonneville Power Administration to establish easements on Potlatch properties in FY2006.  Easements have been identified as a tool to be used by the Coeur d'Alene Fish Habitat Acquisition Project from its inception and subsequent approval in March of 2002.  This Scope of Work was developed in response to the Bonneville Power Administration's and the Northwest Power and Conservation Council's approval of a Within-Year Budget Modification requesting $500,000 in expense funding for 2002-045-00 in FY2006. The Coeur d'Alene Tribe is submitting this Scope of Work in accordance with that approval which was granted on 2/22/2006.