This project describes the Nez Perce Tribe's efforts to monitor currently ongoing NPT fisheries.  Sampling strategies are designed to provide greater data precision in treaty catch reports and exploitation rates during select Nez Perce fishery seasons.  Harvest management is intertwined with all Columbia Basin artificial production programs and affects the status of naturally produced stocks as well.  The Nez Perce Tribe has monitored its fisheries primarily by funding sources outside the Northwest Power Planning Council (NPPC) process.  However, the subbasin planning process has documented the need to incorporate this very important aspect of fisheries management within the existing Fish and Wildlife Program.  

The current SOW has three major areas of activity.  Biological Assessments and Tribal Management Plans will be prepared to assure both incidental and direct take of ESA listed species does not jeopardize their existence.  The bulk of the work of the SOW in involved in actual on the ground harvest monitoring in Snake, Salmon and Clearwater rivers and their tributaries and in the Zone 6 fishery (Bonneville Dam to McNary Dam, including some Below Bonneville fishing).  In addition, there will be work to design and verify the monitoring techniques and disseminate the monitoring data to cooperating agencies on a regular basis.