Summary: This contract supports the continuation of management activities on the Isqúulktpe Watershed Project.  Management efforts undertaken under this contract are designed to promote watershed health and ecosystem function, protect, enhance and mitigate target wildlife mitigation species, and nurture self-sustaining habitats for fish and wildlife.  Project activities include: 1) Planning and Design; 2) Construction and Implementation; 3) Operations and Maintenance; and 4) Monitoring and Evaluation.  Many of the major tasks are annual in nature, and contribute to ongoing protection and enhancement of the fish and wildlife habitat values, and the ecosystem health and function, desired within the watershed.    

Status:  The current SOW provides direction for planned actions during the contract period.  Management activities planned for 2013 encompass the following tasks:

- Administer and operate the watershed habitat area
- Renew grazing leases to provide rest from livestock grazing
- Monitor and maintain existing fence to control trespass livestock
- Maintain wildlife water facilities and spring exclosures
- Continue monitoring and treatment strategies to control and eradicate weeds
- Continue treatment of Himalayan blackberry, which out-competes desirable vegetation
- Maintain seasonal road closure to protect habitat for spawning steelhead
- Continue efforts to control medusahead, and re-vegetate with native plants.
- Plant native grasses and shrubs on previously treated blackberry control sites

Background

The Isqúulktpe Creek watershed is a fifth-order subbasin located in the Umatilla River Basin, encompassing approximately 24,200 acres.  Located on the western slopes of the Blue Mountains in Oregon, Isqúulktpe (formerly known as Squaw) Creek, drains into the Umatilla River upstream of Pendleton, Oregon.  Topography of the Isqúulktpe Watershed is typical of the Blue Mountain foothills, with broad flat ridges dissected by steep canyons with a wide variety of aspects.

The CTUIR developed the Isqúulktpe Watershed Project under the Columbia Basin Fish and Wildlife Program in 1995.  (Note: In 2009, the spelling of the project title was changed from Iskuulpa to Isqúulktpe.)  The purpose of the project is to offset habitat losses from, and provide in-kind mitigation for, the impacts of construction and operation of the John Day and McNary hydroelectric projects.  The Project emphasizes two principle strategies for acquiring, protecting, and enhancing habitat to meet these project purposes: fee acquisitions; and the leasing of Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) administered grazing allotments, and resting them from livestock use.