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. Workgroup 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 partially mitigate wildlife impacts in the Pend Oreille Subbasin. The construction of Albeni Falls Dam resulted in the loss of over 20,000 Habitat Units in wetland and riparian habitat types. These losses occurred exclusively within The Kalispel Ceded Lands. Through the acquisition of property rights (fee title to management agreements], property protection and habitat enhancement, The Kalispel Tribe is continuing to mitigate for these losses. This contract provides for enhancement, operation & maintenance and monitoring & evaluation for all properties managed by The Kalispel Tribe in this mitigation project.
The properties acquired to date by The Kalispel Tribe fall into two general categories. Those that are conservation type with limited enhancement work necessary in the Idaho management area [ Beaver Lake, Gamlin Lake and West Branch Priest River] and those that have high potential habitat value but require active enhancement activities to realize their potential [the Flying Goose Ranch, two Tacoma Creek properties, three Trimble Creek properties and two Calispell Creek properties]. Active enhancement work for this contract period will take place in the Tacoma/Trimble Management Area. This Management Area is located 5 miles North of Cusick WA along Highway 20 in Township 34N Range 43E Section 36 and Township 33N Range 43E Sections 1,2,11and 12. Management activities include hydraulic restoration, wetland enhancement, shoreline protection and vegetation restoration.
Along with active enhancement activities, this contract will provide for data collection to provide scientific support for the continuation of these types of enhancement activities on additional properties as they become part of this project. This contract will also cover the operation and maintenance of existing habitat value and previously installed structures.