Project Objective

The objective of this project is to facilitate wildlife mitigation activities under the Southern Idaho Wildlife Mitigation Program in order to protect, enhance/restore and maintain riparian, shrub-steppe, and scrub-shrub wetland habitat at suitable sites in the Middle Snake Province as mitigation for wildlife losses associated with the construction of Black Canyon and Anderson Ranch hydro-electric projects.  Target species include mule deer, elk, mallard, mink, black-capped chickadee, yellow warbler, yellow-rumped warbler, ruffed grouse, blue grouse, spruce grouse, greater sage-grouse, redband trout, and bull trout. This contract has been developed to cover personnel, administrative, and operating costs.  Many of the objectives and tasks listed throughout this document are conducted on an ongoing basis throughout the contract period.

Background:
In southern Idaho, a BPA debt for wildlife habitat losses identified in the Council's Fish and Wildlife Program remains to be mitigated in the area covered by the Southern Idaho Wildlife Mitigation (SIWM) project.  The SIWM group includes the Shoshone-Paiute Tribes, the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes, and the Idaho Fish and Game Department.

Tools that will be used to identify acquisition, protection, and enhancement sites include the GAP analysis program, BPA impact assessments, regional fish and wildlife data, input from regional professionals and working groups, and maps of available properties.

Location:
The Duck Valley Indian Reservation is 289,820 acres in size and is located on the Idaho/Nevada border. There are approximately 2,300 enrolled Tribal members.  The Reservation is located in the Middle Snake Province in both the Bruneau and Owyhee subbasins.  

The Tribes will concentrate their mitigation efforts in the Middle Snake Province, which is part of the Tribes' aboriginal lands.

This contract includes work elements specific to the Pole Creek wildlife mitigation  property in Owyhee County, Idaho. The Tribes are in the process of having a  management plan developed for the property but until the plan is reviewed and approved by BPA the work elements contained in this statement of work are considered interim in nature.

No specific operations and maintenance budget has been assigned to the property so work tasks in Fiscal Year 2025 will be implemented and funds drawn from the preacquisition budget in order to complete important work at the ranch until a dedicated contract can be negotiated between the Tribes and BPA for long term stewardship of the property.