Bull trout Salvelinus confluentus have been listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), and redband trout Oncorhynchus mykiss gairdneri are listed as a State of Oregon sensitive species. Both are focal species of this Resident Fish Program and are the principal drivers into our investigations of native salmonid life history in the Malheur Basin.   Project focus in 2010 will include the annual participation of bull trout redd count surveys, the third year of redband distribution and abundance research, habitat assessments comparing a minimum of 25 sites in redband high desert habitat, and the completion of the Malheur Basin Monitoring Plan currently in draft form.  
Bull trout redd surveys are completed yearly for data on long-term population trend monitoring.  Redband distribution and abundance field surveys will provide needed information on the variability of native redband numbers and their associated habitats, over a five year sampling time frame.  The second year of habitat assessments will be correlated to redband densities and distributions for insights into the limiting factors of population groups and site-specific populations.  Completion of the Malheur Basin Monitoring Plan will guide the tribe's Fisheries Program over the next 5 - 10 years and will seek to include the work plans of local federal and state entities.  Information gathered willl be incorporated into the Northwest Power and Conservation Council Fish and Wildlife Program and shall provide policy personnel better defined biological objectives for native fish in the Malheur Subbasin/Middle Snake Province.