Comment:

The ISRP has identified all tribal enforcement projects in this review as "not applicable" because scientific assessment of the enforcement activities to biological conservation objectives is not possible.

There is a need for proponents of this and other enforcement projects to coordinate with biologists from CRITFC and other agencies to obtain estimates of the biological metrics stated in the objectives and relate these estimates to enforcement activities.

All the tribal enforcement projects have documented their activities. A separate effort is needed to track trends in enforcement activities among tribes, quantify their cumulative enforcement actions, assess changes over time, and relate these activities to biological objectives.

1. Objectives, Significance to Regional Programs, and Technical Background

The goal of this project is to reduce illegal take of Columbia River Basin salmonids, lamprey, and native resident fishes in Zone 6 to help rebuild endemic fish populations within the basin. The need for effective enforcement is placed in the context of conserving fish species.

The four objectives are clear and reasonable. The first three are partially quantitative in that they include biological metrics (i.e., increased survival) for measuring success; however, the project proponents do not obtain estimates of these metrics.

Objectives specific to enforcement activities are not included. Objectives and expected outcomes relative to enforcement activities can be expressed quantitatively. This refinement would improve the ability to conduct adaptive management by allowing effective review of objectives, methods, and performance outcomes; thus, enabling the proponents to identify and share lessons learned from enforcement actions, identify limiting factors, and recognize opportunities for adaptive responses.

2. Results and Adaptive Management

Enforcement actions are documented in annual reports, but outcomes are not evaluated in terms of the metrics identified in the objectives. It would be helpful to synthesize the tabular summaries of resource protection actions by year over the history of the project to facilitate evaluation of temporal trends by types of actions.

Annual reports list numbers of tribal fishery and sport fishery enforcement actions. A highly informative summary table in the 2017 Annual Report shows time patrolling commercial and ceremonial fisheries, time patrolling by boat and vehicle by day and night, numbers of fishing gears seized or recovered, numbers of salmon and sturgeon seized and released alive, and numbers of arrests. Summary tables provide data for each quarter and are useful. It would be helpful to develop additional tables providing annual summary data for these actions for each year of the project. Such a synthesis would facilitate basic analyses of activities (i.e., temporal trends illustrated graphically or in tables) and potentially reveal new challenges for enforcement.

There is opportunity to evaluate temporal and spatial trends in enforcement actions based on summaries in annual reports. Police activities beyond those associated with natural resource protection are also described in annual reports. It is unclear how much time is spent on these activities. Summary tables similar to those for fishery enforcement actions would be useful.

Annual reports list public outreach and education events by date, as well as numbers of people attending events. Summary tables of these activities would be useful in evaluation of the project.

The ISRP 2010 review (2010-44b) pointed to opportunities to improve and coordinate data collection through spatial representation (i.e., GIS) to allow a more analytical, synthetic, and scientific representation of what is occurring in enforcement by CRITFC. Response to this suggestion is not evident in the proposal.

There are no descriptions of lessons learned through the enforcement actions. The 2010 ISRP review noted that, in addition to describing enforcement actions, lessons learned should be described.

3. Methods: Project Relationships, Work Types, and Deliverables

Four full time enforcement personnel are funded by this project: three officers and one dispatcher. The general approach used by CRITFC is appropriate: (1) maintain highly visible fish and wildlife conservation enforcement as a means to deter illegal fishing activities; (2) enhance enforcement activities through cooperation and assistance from federal, state, tribal, regional, and local entities; and (3) educate people about the need to protect species and cultural values.

Neither the proposal nor the most recent 2017 Annual Report describes methods in sufficient detail to enable scientific review. General overviews of police patrol procedures are provided, but there is not detail on patrol design, schedules, standard procedures, or temporal or spatial extent of patrol coverage.

Monitoring and evaluation of enforcement actions are not described.

The proposal provides good detail in describing the approach taken by the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fisheries Enforcement (CRITFE) to Zone 6 enforcement. It also provides an adequate justification for the approach and places the need for effective enforcement well within the larger context of conservation and recovery efforts. Effective enforcement is of clear benefit to fish and wildlife.

Where the proposal could be stronger is in presenting lessons learned from a synthesis of the many enforcement actions, and an assessment of limiting factors, challenges, and adaptive responses based on what has been learned about enforcement activities to date. All enforcement projects should have an educational component, and the presentation made it clear that this one does, but it could be better described and represented in the proposal.

Among the different enforcement entities there are opportunities to better coordinate, improve data collection, and do spatial representation through GIS. These actions would allow a more analytical, synthetic, and scientific representation of what is occurring in enforcement across the Columbia River Basin.

1. Purpose, Significance to Regional Programs, Technical Background, and Objectives

The purpose of the proposed work is for CRITFE to reduce illegal take of Columbia River Basin salmonids and native resident fish, and to thereby enhance the rebuilding of endemic fish populations. This would be accomplished through harvest law enforcement in Zone 6, promoting cooperation and assistance from non-tribal agencies, and public education about the need to conserve fishes and habitat. The proposal explicitly integrates enforcement for the protection of fish, wildlife and habitats with other fish and wildlife enhancement measures, and makes the case for the significance of enforcement to the success of regional programs. The proposal provides a good problem statement.

The approach has three components: 1. maintain active and visible harvest law enforcement in Zone 6 of the Columbia River at levels that ensure compliance; 2. improve enforcement efficiency by promoting cooperation among federal, state, tribal, regional and local entities; and 3. educate the public about risks to specific fish stocks and their habitats and the need for conservation.

The proposal lists four objectives to achieve these goals: 1. improve juvenile outmigration survival; 2. improve adult outmigration survival; 3.improve resident fish survival; and 4. improve enforcement program effectiveness. Each has coordination, outreach and enforcement activities listed.

2. History: Accomplishments, Results, and Adaptive Management

The proposal provides a financial history and a link to the annual report. The annual report provides detailed lists of enforcement and outreach issues and actions, but does not provide any synthesis of key issues or assessment of areas of success or failure.

A brief summary lists co-funders and emphasizes a community oriented enforcement strategy for effective deterrence.

“Adaptive management” is described as varying enforcement actions in response to changes in run status and associated behaviors. It describes coordination of enforcement actions with CRITFC biologists.

3. Project Relationships, Emerging Limiting Factors, and Tailored Questions for Type of Work (Hatchery, RME, Tagging)

CRITFE has primary enforcement authority for all treaty tribal fisheries and shares concurrent jurisdiction on the mainstem Columbia River over enforcement of state law. CRITFE officers are also commissioned with Special Law Enforcement Commissions by the Bureau of Indian Affairs - Law Enforcement Division. Related conservation enforcement projects and/or cooperating entities in Zone 6 of the mainstem Columbia River include many other entities. A list of tribal, state and federal cooperating agencies is provided.

No limiting factors are described.

4. Deliverables, Work Elements, Metrics, and Methods

Work elements are listed as outreach and education, regional coordination and law enforcement. Deliverables are tracked into these work elements and are described as tasks under each objectives. An assessment of factors that may limit success is not provided for any of the deliverables.

Methods of conducting the tasks are generally described. Metrics of deliverable performance are summarized. Four full time enforcement personnel are funded by this project: three officers and one dispatcher.

The proposal provides good detail in describing the approach taken by the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fisheries Enforcement (CRITFE) to Zone 6 enforcement. It also provides an adequate justification for the approach and places the need for effective enforcement well within the larger context of conservation and recovery efforts. Effective enforcement is of clear benefit to fish and wildlife. Where the proposal could be stronger is in presenting lessons learned from a synthesis of the many enforcement actions, and an assessment of limiting factors, challenges, and adaptive responses based on what has been learned about enforcement activities to date. All enforcement projects should have an educational component, and the presentation made it clear that this one does, but it could be better described and represented in the proposal. Among the different enforcement entities there are opportunities to better coordinate, improve data collection, and do spatial representation through GIS. These actions would allow a more analytical, synthetic, and scientific representation of what is occurring in enforcement across the Columbia River Basin. 1. Purpose, Significance to Regional Programs, Technical Background, and Objectives The purpose of the proposed work is for CRITFE to reduce illegal take of Columbia River Basin salmonids and native resident fish, and to thereby enhance the rebuilding of endemic fish populations. This would be accomplished through harvest law enforcement in Zone 6, promoting cooperation and assistance from non-tribal agencies, and public education about the need to conserve fishes and habitat. The proposal explicitly integrates enforcement for the protection of fish, wildlife and habitats with other fish and wildlife enhancement measures, and makes the case for the significance of enforcement to the success of regional programs. The proposal provides a good problem statement. The approach has three components: 1. maintain active and visible harvest law enforcement in Zone 6 of the Columbia River at levels that ensure compliance; 2. improve enforcement efficiency by promoting cooperation among federal, state, tribal, regional and local entities; and 3. educate the public about risks to specific fish stocks and their habitats and the need for conservation. The proposal lists four objectives to achieve these goals: 1. improve juvenile outmigration survival; 2. improve adult outmigration survival; 3.improve resident fish survival; and 4. improve enforcement program effectiveness. Each has coordination, outreach and enforcement activities listed. 2. History: Accomplishments, Results, and Adaptive Management The proposal provides a financial history and a link to the annual report. The annual report provides detailed lists of enforcement and outreach issues and actions, but does not provide any synthesis of key issues or assessment of areas of success or failure. A brief summary lists co-funders and emphasizes a community oriented enforcement strategy for effective deterrence. “Adaptive management” is described as varying enforcement actions in response to changes in run status and associated behaviors. It describes coordination of enforcement actions with CRITFC biologists. 3. Project Relationships, Emerging Limiting Factors, and Tailored Questions for Type of Work (Hatchery, RME, Tagging) CRITFE has primary enforcement authority for all treaty tribal fisheries and shares concurrent jurisdiction on the mainstem Columbia River over enforcement of state law. CRITFE officers are also commissioned with Special Law Enforcement Commissions by the Bureau of Indian Affairs - Law Enforcement Division. Related conservation enforcement projects and/or cooperating entities in Zone 6 of the mainstem Columbia River include many other entities. A list of tribal, state and federal cooperating agencies is provided. No limiting factors are described. 4. Deliverables, Work Elements, Metrics, and Methods Work elements are listed as outreach and education, regional coordination and law enforcement. Deliverables are tracked into these work elements and are described as tasks under each objectives. An assessment of factors that may limit success is not provided for any of the deliverables. Methods of conducting the tasks are generally described. Metrics of deliverable performance are summarized. Four full time enforcement personnel are funded by this project: three officers and one dispatcher.