Natural resources, including flora and fauna have shaped the culture of the Kootenai Tribe of Idaho (Tribe or KTOI) for thousands of years. The aboriginal territories of the Kootenai Tribe of Idaho people were far reaching with traditional hunting, fishing, and gathering activities extending into British Columbia, Western Montana, and all of Northern Idaho; many of the areas and resources traditionally used by the Tribe have been lost, anadromous salmonids no longer journey up the Upper Columbia River and its tributaries, and wapato no longer blooms on the drained wet meadows. Even today, the Kootenai white sturgeon and burbot struggle to maintain historic spawning grounds. It is the goal of the Tribe to promote full mitigation of the impacts suffered by the people of the Kootenai Tribe of Idaho and the fish, water, wildlife, and plant resources upon which they depended, as a direct and indirect result of the development and operation of the Federal Columbia River Power System (FCRPS).

Coordination and cooperation between all federal and State agencies and Upper Columbia United Tribes (UCUT) will ensure Albeni Falls wildlife mitigation activities are consistent with the Northwest Power and Conservation Council's (NPCC) Columbia Basin Fish and Wildlife Program. Historically, the purpose of this work statement is to provide funds to the Tribe to participate in the Albeni Falls Interagency Work Group (Work Group) and implementation of Albeni Falls Wildlife Mitigation Project - 9206100 (Project). The Kootenai Tribe of Idaho project work statement and process follows the newly adopted program (NPPC 2000) and the 1995 Fish and Wildlife Program by focusing its efforts on the mitigation of fish and wildlife losses attributable to the development, operation and management of the Columbia River Basin hydroelectric facilities. This project will also complement, support, and integrate ongoing and future fisheries, wildlife and ecological studies in the Kootenai River Basin.

Wildlife management plans were developed for the Nimz Ranch (~655ac), Upper Twin Rivers (87ac), Mirror Lake (150ac) and have been incorporated into the larger Tribal Conservation Mgmt. Plan along with the Trout Creek Peninsula (112 acres) in the Kootenai River valley and Perkins Lake (98 acres) in the Moyie River basin. The Kootenai Tribe of Idaho has met with community groups, agencies, governments and local individuals, including but not limited to local farmers, sportsman groups and county officials, in order to address public concerns regarding wetland/riparian mitigation and conservation activities. This community-oriented approach (membership in Kootenai Valley Resource initiative [KVRI], and development of the “Kootenai River Valley Wetland and Riparian Conservation Strategy”) has protracted the short-term mitigation activities of the Tribal mitigation program, but at this measured pace the Tribal mitigation program hopes to accomplish a more stable, long-lived wildlife mitigation strategy and ensure the success of local wildlife management activities in the future. The Kootenai Tribe of Idaho is reviewing mitigation opportunities that combine local values, issues, and address potential concerns regarding land purchases in the Kootenai aboriginal territories.

The Tribe is implementing preliminary floral and fauna surveys, mapping and tracking weeds and cultural plants, and monitoring water elevations related to areas of potential restoration (i.e., cottonwood/willow/aspen recruitment, etc.). The Tribe has developed a programmatic Conservation Mgmt. plan, where new individual mitigation parcels and associated project management plans will be attached and incorporated into appendices as appropriate.

Natural tree regeneration (cottonwood/willow) on depositional areas along the Kootenai River (e.g., Nimz, Trout Creek Peninsula) showed promise during early surveys, but high winter flows by Libby Dam flooded, scoured and drown a large percentage of all surveyed natural regeneration. Surveys of water timing/duration/depth, and other factors influencing natural recruitment have been documented. The Tribe has utilized observational data and related river data (20020800) to show the related impacts of winter high flows due to power peaking operation from Libby Dam (associated work in 200201100) and develop management options to increase natural tree regeneration for native river bank pioneering species.

Long term funding of mitigation project operations and maintenance actions were based on ecological principles, and activities that protect and/or maintain functional target habitats and associated habitat units (HU's) while ensuring project viability and integrity. The same is true today, except for the use of HU's where the Tribe has introduced a more ecological approach to O & M, and M&E endeavors. O&M also includes administrative functions and practices that support protection and operations and maintenance measures on project lands.

In association with the Albeni Fall Wildlife Mitigation Project (199206105), the Reconnect project (200200800) plays a critical role in the assessment and restoration of floodplain ecosystem services and ecological functions within the Kootenai Subbasin. The Reconnect project acts as the feasibility and restoration design arm of the Kootenai Tribal Wildlife Mitigation Projects due to administrative and budgetary constraints, and compliments the restoration of wildlife mitigation areas by enhancing and reconstructing floodplain habitats, wetlands, and riparian habitat communities.