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 (particularly BPA-funding hatchery facilities) 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 work of the SOW is focused on 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).  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.