Administrative Summary:

Agency: The Shoshone-Bannock Tribes
Address: P.O. Box 306
Fort Hall, Idaho 83203
Program Manager:               Michael Haddix  
Telephone: (208) 239-4558
Administrative: Beverly Wadsworth
Telephone: (208) 478-3821

Project Goal:

The Shoshone-Bannock Tribes will implement southern Idaho wildlife mitigation operations and maintenance programs for the Rudeen Ranch / Indian Springs Wildlife Mitigation Project. Continuation of   baseline habitat units (HU's) evaluation will be continued. Habitat improvement related to management actions will be undertaken. Maximization of and maintenance of wildlife habitat unit (HU) values on the project areas will be the primary project goal. This SOW covers the Rudeen Ranch/Indian Springs Project. Implementation of O and M should provide for maximization of HUs to be credited to the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) upon completion.

This SOW has been developed to cover personnel and operational costs for a 12-month period.

RUDEEN RANCH /INDIAN SPRING   Wildlife Mitigation Project
  
Objectives and Tasks:

The objectives and tasks are ongoing throughout the duration of this SOW.  Task implementation is site-specific and may be repeated for the duration of the project. The Rudeen Ranch /Indian Springs Project was acquired primarily to protect and enhance critical habitat primarily for the following species: Bald eagle winter roosting habitat, mule deer summer and winter range, elk, moose, ruffed grouse and sharptail grouse. The maintenance and improvement of secure mule deer fawning and elk calving areas, undisturbed deer and elk winter range. Secure bald eagle winter roosting areas and optimum ruffed grouse and limited sharptail grouse habitat. Maintaining and enhancing these habitats is the primary goal of this SOW for O&M.  Other wildlife species, and critical habitat will not be ignored during this initial phase of project O&M.

All recently cultivated lands on the project have been seeded to native grassland species. The new plantings must be monitored and noxious weeds in the newly planted areas controlled. The Cropland Reserve (CRP) lands on the project should also be replanted to native plant species. Elimination of cattle grazing on the project and adjacent BLM grazing allotment should be evaluated to quantify benefits to targeted project species.

An additional 1.5 miles of fence needs to be constructed on the project. This fencing will be adjacent to the main county road that traverses the project. This fencing should eliminate unauthorized motor vehicle traffic off the main county road. In addition to fencing several gates will be installed that allow for passage of people on foot or horseback but will exclude all motorized vehicles.

A public information program will be initiated, which will include extensive signing of the project both on the road accessible areas and the back country trails entering the project from BLM, Forest Service, State and private lands. Permanent interpretive signs will be located at the main road access sights. Informational brochures identifying BPA's role in the project. Other important aspects of the project and detailed maps identifying project boundaries and other adjacent public lands will also be provided to the public.

Bald eagle winter use on and adjacent to the project lands is dependent upon the concentrated winter use of the area by wintering waterfowl.  Annual bald eagle counts will be continued to verify eagle use and assigned HUs. Eagle use of the project has declined significantly the past two years. This change in use patterns may be due to the extremely low water levels of American Falls Reservoir and associated lower concentrations of wintering waterfowl and decreased availability of fish.

Other species such as ruffed grouse for which this project has HUs accrued will be assessed for possible enhancement.  Annual spring ruffed grouse drumming surveys and late summer brood counts will be continued.  Areas of grass land shrub and new areas of native grass plantings will be monitored to see if sharptail grouse are pioneering the newly planted and un-grazed grasslands..

The flora and fauna inventory of the project lands will be on going. Native plant restoration and noxious weed control are important O&M activities, and will be continued.

Livestock grazing management on adjacent federal lands as it relates to wildlife habitat quality will also be addressed. A comprehensive grazing management plans for adjacent BLM grazing allotments will be reviewed in cooperation with the BLM and IDF&G. Some additional fencing programs may be needed to eliminate possible trespass grazing.

Control of off road vehicle use is of significant importance relative to impacts on wintering wildlife. Use of project lands by snow machines and ATVs has both direct and indirect negative impacts on wintering mule deer and other wildlife. A long-term ORV use plans for adjacent BLM and state land will be developed.  Additional fencing as previously described on project lands will help to dissuade ORV use.