PROPERTY ACQUISITION PROJECT:

The Spokane Tribe Blue Creek Winter Range Project was developed to mitigate the construction and inundation losses associated with Grand Coulee Dam.  The losses to the Spokane Tribe of Indians totaled 6679 HU's (from the 1986 Final Report: Wildlife Protection, Mitigation and Enhancement Planning for Grand Coulee Dam) for Sharp-tailed grouse, Ruffed grouse, Mourning dove, Mule deer, White-tailed deer, and riparian forest cover type.

In 1996-1998, a total of 1864 acres of land where acquired as partial mitigation for the Grand Coulee losses.  Properties were initially purchased in 4 areas on the Spokane Indian Reservation that were identified as needing protection and enhancement of wildlife habitat.  The areas include Blue Creek, Fox Creek, McCoy Lake Watershed, and Wellpinit Mt.  In 2002, 3 additional areas on the Reservation were identified for protection which included Tshimikain Creek, Cottonwood Flats, and the Peaks.  An additional 1460 acres of land were added to the Wildlife project in 2004-2005 with the majority of those acres being acquired within the McCoy Lake Watershed.

In 1998, the Tribe and BPA began the Spokane Tribe Wildlife Mitigation Wildlife Operations & Maintenance Project (1998-00-300).  This "sister" project was developed to include the management of the lands that are acquired through the Blue Creek project.  Management activities included operations, maintenance, and enhancements of the lands.

In FY06 the project will continue with all necessary work to acquire properties that were identified in FY05, but have not been purchased.  Only 1 of the 16 identified projects in FY05 were acquired.  The project will also identify new properties for potential purchase in FY06.  The pre-acquisition work identified within the Scope of Work will be conducted throughout the Fiscal Year with individual properties being acquired as the pre-acquisition work is completed on that property.