Summary: This contract supports the continuation of management activities on the Isqúulktpe Watershed Project, and provides direction and support for planned implementation actions during the contract period.  Many of the major tasks are annual in nature, and contribute to ongoing protection and enhancement of the fish and wildlife habitat values, and the ecosystem health and function, desired within the watershed.

Project activities typically focus on the following activities: 1) Planning and Design; 2) Construction and Implementation; 3) Operations and Maintenance; and 4) limited, site-specific Monitoring and Evaluation.  Management efforts undertaken under this contract are designed to promote watershed health and ecosystem function, protect, enhance and mitigate target wildlife mitigation species, and nurture self-sustaining habitats for fish and wildlife.  

Status:  The current SOW provides direction for actions planned or implemented during the contract period. Recurrent management priorities reflected as ongoing activities include:
  --  Administer and operate the watershed habitat area
  --  Renew grazing leases to provide rest from livestock grazing
  --  Monitor and maintain existing fence to control trespass livestock
  --  Maintain wildlife water facilities and spring exclosures
  --  Continue monitoring and treatment strategies to control and eradicate weeds
  --  Continue treatment of Himalayan blackberry, which out-competes desirable vegetation
  --  Maintain seasonal road closure to protect habitat for spawning steelhead
  --  Continue efforts to control sulfur cinquefoil, and re-vegetate with native plants
  --  Plant native grasses and shrubs on previously treated blackberry control sites

Added management actions, newly initiated work, or activities expected to be expanded during the contract period include the following tasks/purposes (2017):
  --  Improve forest habitat on approximately 150 acres on and adjacent to Telephone Ridge, continue thinning and develop contract for hand-piling of woody biomass for FY18
  --  Fence to enclose approximately 0.5 acre of aspen habitat that is unable to regenerate due to heavy ungulate browsing (continue from 2016, no bids received for the work)
  --  Initiate trial of Pseudomonas bacteria to control Medusahead rye (invasive grass specie)
  --  Rehabilitate section of Isqúulktpe Creek where it has washed out the road, restore access to the wildlife area parking and kiosks, improve public access and displays, improve stream and riparian habitat
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Background:  The Isqúulktpe Creek watershed is a fifth-order subbasin located in the Umatilla River Basin, encompassing approximately 24,200 acres.  Located on the western slopes of the Blue Mountains in Oregon, Isqúulktpe (formerly known as Squaw) Creek, drains into the Umatilla River upstream of Pendleton, Oregon.  Topography of the Isqúulktpe Watershed is typical of the Blue Mountain foothills, with broad flat ridges dissected by steep canyons with a wide variety of aspects.

The CTUIR developed the Isqúulktpe Watershed Project under the Columbia Basin Fish and Wildlife Program in 1995.  (Note: In 2009, the spelling of the project title was changed from Iskuulpa to Isqúulktpe.)  The purpose of the project is to offset habitat losses from, and provide in-kind mitigation for, the impacts of construction and operation of the John Day and McNary hydroelectric projects.  The Project emphasizes two principle strategies for acquiring, protecting, and enhancing habitat to meet these project purposes: fee acquisitions; and the leasing of Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) administered grazing allotments, and resting them from livestock use.