Contract history:

The Nez Perce Tribe (NPT) Department of Fisheries Resource Management (DFRM) - Watershed Division Clearwater Focus project began in 1997 under the Early Action Watershed Projects with the objective of completing watershed restoration projects, including riparian/wetland fencing and road decommissioning on the Nez Perce and Clearwater National Forests.  Since that time, this project has expanded to include planning, coordinating, and supervising watershed restoration actions within the entire NPT Treaty Territory (includes the Clearwater, Salmon, NE Oregon, and SE Washington areas), while expanding these efforts to include all watershed/aquatic ecosystem protection and restoration activities to include, but not limited to, watershed assessments, addressing fish passage barriers, riparian and in-stream/floodplain channel restoration, addressing upland impacts (roads, agriculture) education/outreach, and monitoring and evaluation.  This project works within all land ownerships and managers (federal, tribal, state, and private lands) and has developed several watershed assessments and Subbasin Plans.  In addition, on-going Master Participating Agreements are renewed on an annual basis between the Nez Perce Tribe and five U.S. National Forests (Nez Perce - Clearwater, Payette, Boise, Wallowa-Whitman, and Umatilla National Forests) that facilitate protection and restoration activities.  

The overall goal of the NPT DFRM - Watershed Division Focus Watershed Restoration Program is to facilitate and coordinate an organized and efficient watershed/aquatic ecosystem restoration program throughout the NPT Treaty Territory.  This effort includes protecting, restoring, and enhancing a connected network of functioning habitat types capable of supporting all life stages of fish and wildlife.  This important work has its roots in exercising tribal sovereignty and protecting rights reserved under the Nez Perce Treaty of 1855 with the United States Federal Government.  These activities are accomplished using a holistic approach, encompassing entire watersheds from ridge-top to ridge-top.  Specifically, the NPT DFRM Watershed Division mission is to:

• Be a leader in holistic aquatic ecosystem restoration;
• Ensure and facilitate the protection of currently healthy and properly functioning aquatic ecosystems;
• Aggressively restore degraded aquatic ecosystems by any and all means necessary;
• Ensure our efforts focus on restoring the functions that support healthy ecosystems, such as natural stream flows, appropriate sediment loads, floodplain connectivity, and appropriately vegetated riparian corridors;
• Develop clear and quantitatively defined goals and standards for healthy aquatic ecosystems, as well as the protocols to monitor the success and status of recovery efforts and facilitate adaptive management strategies;
• Coordinate and collaborate with appropriate individuals and/or entities with land management authority to ensure plans and activities are protective and respectful of aquatic ecosystems;
• Provide educational opportunities and outreach materials for all age groups, other agencies, and the public on environmental issues and ethics;
• Maintain a workforce which possesses the highest level of integrity and professionalism, and is well organized, passionate, creative, and connected to the land and resources, and;
• Work within and implement the integrated management strategies of the Department of Fisheries Resource Management.  

Through this mission statement, it is a primary focus of this project to work with Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) in the coordination and implementation of the 2008 Federal Columbia River Power System (FCRPS) Biological Opinion (BiOp) and with the Northwest Power and Conservation Council in the coordination and implementation of their Fish and Wildlife Program as related to watershed/aquatic ecosystem restoration.

FY 2019  Contract summary:

The NPT DFRM Watershed Division Director implements this contract and sets the direction for restoration activities and oversight, as well as the implementation of the various Subbasin Management Plans throughout the NPT Treaty Territory. The Director collaborates with NPT staff, BPA, Forest Service, and other partners to utilize the most current data to prioritize and plan restoration projects using the Atlas Prioritization Framework.  The Director also:

• Facilitates regular communication and working relationship with BPA and the NPCC related to tributary habitat restoration;
• Coordinates protection and restoration actions;
• Aids in policy decisions of the NPT regarding watershed restoration management of their treaty territory;
• Facilitates cooperative actions with federal, tribal, state, local, and private organizations;
• Supervises DFRM Watershed Division Project Leaders and their personnel;
• Provides leadership in watershed restoration actions for the NPT DFRM.