Continuing land acquistions to offset wildlife losses from Chief Joseph and Grand Coulee Dams.  This project will add additional mitigation lands to lands already enrolled within the Hellsgate O & M mitigation project number 19920448000.  There are a total of 35,820 Habitat Units (HU) lost due to the original construction and inunadation of Chief Joseph and Grand Coulee Dams.  To date we have accumulated 24,599 HU's to offset those losses.  This project is designed to acquire the 11,223 remaining HU's to complete mitigation for terrestrial wildlife .  The scope of this project is negotiating with land owners in the evaluation of potential land for acquistion or conservation easements for wildlife protection, restoration and enhancement.  Surveys will be completed for baseline HEP, boundary fence requirements, noxious weeds, cultural sites, roads and potential HAZMAT issues.

The duration of this project is contingent upon the accumulation of the remaining HU's (11,223) to fully mitigate for wildlife losses.  It should be noted that there are an additional 600 Grand Coulee HU's that the WDFW has committed to the Colville Tribes based on prior contractual agreements.  The $150,000 granted for FY '06 will be expended for these management activities.