Implementation of Tribal and Inter-Tribal harvest and habitat law enforcement within the Nez Perce Tribe 1855 Treaty Area, Zone 6 of the mainstem Columbia River and Usual and Accustomed fishing areas is targeted at reducing the illegal take of salmon, steelhead and resident fish and aid in the rebuilding of native fish populations.

FY08 Objectives:

1) Review and refine Conservation Enforcement RM&E Methods and Designs as needed

2) Tribal Enforcement

3) Gather Law Enforcement Statistics

4) Summarize Conservation Enforcement

5) Disseminate Conservation Enforcement Data and Results

6) Conservation Enforcement Regional Coordination

7) Conservation Enforcement Outreach and Education


The goals and objectives of the enhanced NPT law enforcement program are to implement an expanded enforcement program to provide additional protection against illegal takes of Columbia River salmon species throughout their life cycle with an emphasis on weak stocks passing through the hydro-power corridor into tributary streams within the reservation and Treaty lands of the NPT. The overall goal of the Nez Perce Tribe’s Fisheries/Conservation Enforcement (CE) project is to increase protection of fish & wildlife on all watersheds under our jurisdiction. CE protection includes two primary components (1) reduce illegal take of Columbia Basin fish & wildlife, and (2) enforce habitat rules and regulations.

Specific goals and Objectives of the NPT Conservation Enforecement Project are consistent with the regional enhancement efforts, including:  the NPT Fisheries Resource Management Program; the CBFWA Multi-Year Implementation Plan, the NPCC; Fish & Wildlife Program; the Anadromous Fish Restoration Plan of the Nez Perce, Warm Springs, Umatilla, and Yakama Tribes (1995), and the NMFS & USFS ESA Recovery Plans.  The conceptual scope of the CE program is the entire life cycle of the target fish species, i.e., “gravel to gravel.” The geographical scope of Nez Perce Conservation Enforcement is primarily the Nez Perce Reservation and Treaty lands in the tributary subbasins of the Columbia River system.

The approach is threefold:  (1) substantially increase the levels of harvest & habitat enforcement on Nez Perce watersheds; (2) enhance the efficiency of this effort by promoting cooperation among all relevant entities; and (3) educate the public on the plight of depleted fish & wildlife stocks and the need to protect their critical habitat. We will adaptively manage the CE program via monitoring and evaluation—according to biologically-based performance criteria. The evaluation of desired/actual achievements are in terms of: Inputs (e.g., budget, personnel, equipment ), Outputs (e.g., fishery statistics, contacts, arrests, seizure, etc.), and Outcomes (e.g., fish & wildlife saved, critical habitats protected).

Results will be monitored in accordance with performance standards and specific quantitative and qualitative criteria in conjunction with tribal and regional fish and wildlife management processes and objectives.