This project will provide effective and efficient watershed restoration through coordination and support of tribal restoration planning and project implementation consistent with Wy-Kan-Ush-Mi Wa-Kish-Wit (tribal salmon recovery plan), and the Northwest Power and Conservation Council's (NPCC) Fish and Wildlife Program.  CRITFC will participate, facilitate and support discussions in various regional forums.  Educational and outreach material about successful tribal projects will be published and distributed at public events and at planned hatchery conference, along with updated project information on the CRITFC website.  The tribes have a unique role and legal basis in designing and implementing the basin’s fish and wildlife program.  

The major focus of the project continues to be1)  the implementation and published update of Wy-Kan-Ush-Mi Wa-Kish-Wit, 2) coordinating recommendations and comments on the NPCC Fish and Wildlife Amendment process with CRITFC staff, tribal staff and other regional fish and wildlife co-managers, 3) coordinate a third Future of Our Salmon (FOOS) conference that will focus on restoring fish passage at all historic locations, and 4) overall coordination and technical support at regional meetings and subsequent follow-up.

One indicator of effectiveness is coordination that preserves the tribal effort to implement on-the-ground projects and participate in regional decision making that reflects “Wy-Kan-Ush-Mi Wa-Kish-Wit.”  Coordination effectiveness can also be evaluated through success in sustaining existing relationships and using education and outreach to foster new relations that implement collaborative projects.  Effectiveness is also evaluated by a tribal cohesive and non-overlapping effort on all regional issues.  

Accomplishments from the past year include the following:  Initiating update of Wy-Kan-Ush-Mi Wa-Kish-Wit, attendance and participation at monthly NPCC and other regional meetings (making sure that the tribal perspective is included in all decisions), monthly and weekly summaries to the CRITFC tribes on all of the regional processes, presentations on salmon recovery efforts at public events, creation of BPA project maps for the tribal Fish Accord projects and posted on the CRITFC website, investigation of potential cost-share opportunities, and the 2nd Future of Our Salmon conference focusing on hatchery policy.

CRITFC is proposing to continue all of these efforts through the implementation of this new proposal.