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 Soda Springs Hills Wildlife Mitigation Project.  Baseline habitat units (HU's) associated with this project will be evaluated and habitat improvement related to management actions will be undertaken. Maximization of and maintenance of wildlife habitat unit (HU) values on the project is the primary goal. This SOW covers the Soda Spring Hills 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.
  
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 Soda Springs Hills project was acquired primarily to protect and enhance critical mule deer winter range. The maintenance and improvement of mule deer winter range will be the primary initial component of this SOW for O&M.  Other wildlife species, and critical habitat will not be ignored during this initial phase of project O&M. Ruffed grouse habitat is being evaluated to determine if HUs can be enhanced.

Assessment of possible negative impacts of an increasing resident elk population on winter mule deer habitat needs to be continued.  Resident elk on the project lands and adjacent BLM lands are increasing. The year around presence of this expanding elk herd may be reducing forage available to wintering mule deer.

Bald eagle winter use on and adjacent to the project lands is dependent upon the concentrated winter use of the area by mule deer and associated winter deer mortality.  Annual bald eagle counts will be continued to verify eagle use and assigned HUs.

Other species for which this project has accrued HUs will be assessed for possible enhancement. The potential may also exist to improve sharptail grouse and sage grouse habitat on the project lands.

After grazing is eliminated, all previously cultivated and CRP land may be replanted to native grassland species. This may provide a small area of suitable nesting and brooding areas for sharptail grouse and sage grouse. Both species are present nearby the project, but are only occasionally observed on the project.

During this stage of the O&M program the flora and fauna inventory of the project lands should be continued.  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 continue to be addressed. A comprehensive grazing management plan for project lands and adjacent BLM grazing allotments is being developed in cooperation with the BLM and IDF&G. Some fencing programs will be continued to enhance wintering deer forage availability, and control ORV access.

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 booth direct and indirect negative impacts on wintering mule deer and other wildlife. Both an interim and long term ORV use plans for the project lands and adjacent BLM land are being developed.  Some aspects of an interim plan may be implemented to provide protection of wintering wildlife on project lands. Public input is being solicited regarding off road travel on BLM lands adjacent to project lands. All ORV access to project lands is restricted, except for the county road that traverses the project lands.