The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes (CSKT) and Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks (MFWP) wrote "Fisheries Mitigation Plan for Losses Attributable to the Construction and Operation of Hungry Horse Dam" in March 1991 to define the fisheries losses, mitigation alternatives and recommendations to protect, mitigate and enhance resident fish and aquatic habitat affected by Hungry Horse Dam.  On November 12, 1991, the Northwest Power and Conservation Council (NPCC) approved the mitigation plan with minor modifications, called for a detailed implementation plan, and amended measures 903(h)(1) through (7).  A long-term mitigation plan was submitted in August 1992, was approved by the Council in 1993, and the first contract for this project was signed on November 11, 1993.  The problem this project addresses is the loss of habitat, both in quality and quantity, in the interconnected Flathead Lake and River basin resulting from the construction and operation of Hungry Horse Dam.  Projects will be selected and implemented in accordance with the limiting factors, priorities and strategies identified in the Flathead River Subbasin Plan, amended to the Program in 2004.

The Flathead watershed has been radically altered by dam construction for hydropower and other land uses. With the construction of Hungry Horse, Bigfork and Kerr dams, the Flathead River system was divided into isolated reaches.  Past legal and illegal species introductions are also causing problems for these isolated ecosystems.  In the drainage, native bull trout are a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act and westslope cutthroat have been designated by the state as a species of special concern.  This project fosters mitigation to offset the impacts of the construction of Hungry Horse Dam and the inundation of 72 miles of the South Fork of the Flathead River and its tributaries upstream of the dam.  

Key subbasins within the Flathead drainage, which are critical to native species restoration, are experiencing a rapid change in land ownership and management patterns.  Subdivision and residential development of agricultural and timber lands adjacent to streams and lakes pose one of the greatest threats to weak but recoverable stocks of trout species.  Growth of small tract development throughout the watershed is occurring at a record rate.    

This project addresses basin-level objectives of the 2000 Fish and Wildlife Program of (1) maintenance and restoration of healthy ecosystems and watersheds, (2) protection and expansion of habitat and ecosystem functions, and (3) the achievement of desired population characteristics of resident fish species.  The project mitigates the blockage of spawning runs by Hungry Horse Dam by restoring and creating spawning habitats within Flathead Lake tributaries.  The project also addresses the unstable shoreline habitat within Flathead Lake and shifts in species composition within the lake and consequent dominance of introduced species that might restrict the success of mitigation measures.  

Specific goals of this project are to create and restore habitat and quantitatively monitor changes in fish populations to verify the efficacy of our mitigation measures.  The project consists of four components: monitoring, restoration, research, and coordination.  Monitoring, for example, includes a spring gillnetting series conducted annually in Flathead Lake and builds on an existing data set initiated in 1981.  

Monitoring of the experimental kokanee reintroduction was a primary activity of this project between 1992 and 1997.  Lake trout, whose high densities have precluded successful mitigation of losses of other species in Flathead Lake, have been monitored since 1996 to measure several biological parameters.  Results of this work have utility in determining the status of this key predator.  The project also defined the baseline condition of the Flathead Lake fishery in 1992-1993 and conducted lake-wide creel surveys from 1998 to 2008.  

Since 1995 the restoration component of the project has addressed several stream channel, riparian, and fish passage problems.  Since 2011 restoration of acquired riparian lands has dominated the project workload.  The CSKT have acquired title or easement to over 50 riparian properties since 2005 which has placed enormous demands on the project for access development, weed control, trespass restrictions, structure and debris removal, and vegetative restoration. The research component of the project began in FY 2000 and measured trophic links between Mysis diluviana, lake trout and Daphnia thorata, investigated bull trout and lake trout life history parameters, and evaluated causes of shoreline erosion. Results of the research have assisted in guiding future mitigation strategies.  

The Tribes obtain cost share funds from other sources for the majority of the objectives within this workplan, while at the same time this project assists with the implementation of projects conducted with Tribal dollars.

This project also incorporates the watershed coordination project.  The watershed coordinator was previously a stand alone project but was merged into this project at the request of BPA.  The watershed coordinator helps to coordinate private landowners and agencies for addressing the issues mentioned above.  For recovery of the fisheries resources to be successful in the drainage, local involvement is necessary.  This project is a coordinated effort toward addressing resource concerns and limiting factors within the Flathead River basin from a watershed perspective.  Pilot projects and all other restoration or enhancement projects coordinated and implemented under this project will help address the fisheries losses from Hungry Horse Dam construction and operation.  This project coordinates agencies, landowners, funding sources, and contractors to facilitate on-the-ground actions which benefit resident fish and wildlife.

The primary focus of work in FY2016 is the restoration and maintenance of lands acquired by CSKT to mitigate fisheries losses caused by Hungry Horse Dam.  These activities include writing of land management plans to identify problems and prioritize solutions.  Subsequent work prescribed in these plans consists of such activities as weed management, debris removal, fencing, access development, preventing trespass and habitat restoration.

This project complements and coordinates closely with other projects such as Secure and Restore Critical Resident Fish Habitat (200200300), Hungry Horse Mitigation/Habitat Improvements (9101903), Hungry Horse Mitigation (9101904) and its sister project in the Kootenai River system (9608702).