Clearwater River subbasin was designated a Focus Program in late 1996 under the Northwest Power and Conservation Council's (Council) 1994 Columbia Basin Fish and Wildlife Program (FWP), Section 7.7A.4.

The Clearwater Subbasin Management Plan was formally adopted into the Council's program February 2005 and the Salmon Subbasin Management Plan was adopted into the Council's program in late 2004.  Fiscal Year 2007-2009 solicitation for projects was the first to be framed by the Clearwater and Salmon subbasin management plans.

Goals of the Focus Program are to coordinate protection, enhancement, and restoration of fish and wildlife habitat in the Clearwater River subbasin and the lower and Little Salmon rivers.  Beginning July 1, 2010 the agency sponsor for this contract is the Idaho Office of Species Conservation. A coordinator is retained under this contract to provide technical and management assistance to sponsors of habitat projects that implement the Clearwater and Salmon subbasin management plans and support the Biological Opinion for listed fish species of the Snake River.  

Different mandates, policies, and legal obligations of the various agencies in the focus program area are often confusing to private landowners, non-governmental organizations, and other agencies that can lead to frustration and inaction. The Clearwater Focus Program coordinator facilitates cooperation and collaboration to implement habitat work as effectively, efficiently and within technical constraints as possible.

The coordinator also liaisons between the Clearwater Subbasin and the Council, Bonneville, Idaho Soil Conservation Commission, Idaho Office of Species Conservation, other state and federal agencies, the Nez Perce Tribe, and the Columbia Basin Fish and Wildlife Authority.

Any conservation district, county, tribe, watershed group, agency, or individual in the Focus Program area may request assistance from the program coordinator.  

Specific duties of the coordinator include:

• Assisting with initial proposals for Bonneville project solicitation cycles.

• Coordinating and assisting Bonneville funded project sponsors to plan, develop, and implement projects which meet the goals of the Clearwater or Salmon subbasin plans.

• Finding funding sources through grant writing and proposal development as cost share for Bonneville projects, as well as other subbasin projects which meet the goals and objectives of subbasin plans and/or associated biological opinions for ESA listed fish species.

• Connecting habitat project sponsors with technical experts to assist with planning, design and implementation.  

• Providing advice and assistance with environmental consultations including NEPA, NHPA, and state and federal permitting.

• Offering general management, support, and contract administration assistance.

• Managing the Subbasin Implementation Database.

Groups the coordinator oversees and/or facilitates meetings for:

• Clearwater Technical Group (CTG) is composed of interested agency staffs, organizations, individuals, and conservation districts interested in restoration project coordination and collaboration.  Purpose:  Develops partnerships and project proposals to restore fish populations and habitats.

• Clearwater Core Review Team (CCRT) is composed of technical staff from the following: Bureau of Land Management, Clearwater National Forest, NOAA Fisheries, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Idaho Department of Environmental Quality, and two retired agency fish biologists. The function of this group is to review project proposals developed for various fish restoration funding programs using review criteria the team developed. None of the team members (6 fish biologists and 1 hydraulic engineer) by design, have a stake in the proposed projects they review.  Project proposals will be developed in response to solicitations for proposals by the Idaho Pacific Coast Salmon Recovery Fund and the Idaho State - Bonneville Power Administration Accord, and the Snake River Basin Adjudication (SRBA) program. The Idaho PCSRF allows Bonneville funds to be used as non-federal cost share, the SRBA currently does not.

• Clearwater Policy Advisory Committee (PAC) membership is established by charter and includes the regional managers for the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, Idaho Department of Lands, Idaho Department of Environmental Quality, NOAA Fisheries, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Clearwater and Nez Perce National Forests, Idaho Board of County Commissioners, Idaho Association of Conservation Districts, the Nez Perce Tribe, and Potlatch Corporation.  Purpose:  Provides policy guidance as needed for regional interagency coordination. May serve specific roles as required when geographic reviews are established by the Northwest Power and Conservation Council.