The Coeur d'Alene Tribe intends to reestablish a native redband trout fishery in the Hangman Watershed by addressing both the landscape level and in-stream habitat issues that restrict the redband populations both on the Coeur d'Alene Reservation and the higher elevation tributaries upstream of the Reservation. The Tribe regards successful restoration of redband trout in the Hangman Watershed as a step towards preparing the Reservation landscape and community for the return of salmon as a Tribal resource. The first major accomplishment of this Project was to initiate restoration in the Hangman Watershed through the acquisition of approximately 1,195 acres situated such that the property could function both as mitigation for Albeni Falls construction and inundation losses and as a site where the Coeur d’Alene Tribe could initiate substantive improvements to redband habitats. This Project has continued to expand through partnerships that offer additional resources with which to recruit additional project sites. Principal among those partnerships are the Avista Wetlands Mitigation efforts, which are required as FERC relicensing of dams in the Spokane Watershed, and the Farm Service Agency’s Conservation Reserve Program and the Continuous Conservation Reserve Program. This Project coordinates with these Partners to identify suitable project sites within defined Hydrologic Priority Habitats.  

This FY2023 Scope of Work continues the use of mitigation for Albeni Falls construction and inundations loses to improve instream habitat for redband trout. It continues to partner with Avista wetlands mitigation to restore Hydrologic Priority Habitats, now encompassing 634.51 acres, that lie approximately 2.5 kilometers east of the BPA Mitigation Property. And it continues the partnership with the Farm Service Agency on Project Sites on the North Fork of Rock Creek, Rose Creek and Moctileme Creek and attempts to expand that partnership to include two additional project sites. The Work Elements in this Scope of Work are grouped under general categories that correspond to Planning and Coordination, Construction and Implementation, and Project Administration.

Planning and Coordination Work Elements

A: 165. Produce Environmental Compliance Documentation - Complete NEPA Compliance

B: 191. Watershed Coordination - Cooperate with other Tribal projects and local agencies to maximize restoration benefits

C: 189. Coordination-Columbia Basin wide - Coordinate Efforts with regional partners

D: 114. Identify and Select Projects - Identify & select lands within priority areas where conservation partnerships can be developed

E: 172. Conduct Pre-Acquisition Activities - Exclude uplands within the hnt'k'wipn Management Area in favor of additional floodplain acreage

Construction and Implementation Work Elements

F: 115. Produce Inventory or Assessment – Determine immediate threats to integrity of habitats within Project Sites

G: 27. Remove Debris - Remove debris from either passed use or from illegal dumping

H: 188. Provide Access and Public Information – Maintain and/or establish access to the Project Areas

I: 47. Plant Vegetation - Plant native grasses, trees and shrubs according to pertinent management plans

J: 198. Maintain Vegetation - Minimize the presence of noxious weeds on managed properties

K: 190. Remove, Exclude and/or Relocate Animals – Maintain temporary fences to protect planted native vegetation

L: 29. Increase Aquatic and/or Floodplain Complexity – Slow the movement of water through the Hangman Valley Bottoms by decommissioning constructed drainage ditches or installing BDAs to form water catchments in deeply incised channels

M : 198. Maintain Vegetation – Assess survival of Project Plantings

Project Administration Work Elements

N: 119. Manage and Administer Projects - Manage and administer project

O: 185. Produce Pisces Status Report - Periodic Status Reports for BPA

P: 132. Produce (Annual) Progress Report - Annual Report Required

Q: 99. Outreach and Education - Involve students and inform public of Hangman Restoration Project activities

Major initiatives during FY2023 include; 1) a push to finish the exchange of the easement on uplands within the current hnt’k’wipn Management Area, which is a BPA Wildlife Mitigation Property, for a conservation easement on floodplain acreages that will more readily support wildlife and in-stream habitats, 2) continuing the establishment of native trees and shrubs on Wildlife Mitigation Land, 4) minimizing noxious weeds, and 5) partnering with Avista and FSA/NRCS to broaden the effect of restoration efforts in Hangman, and 6) ensuring beaver activity maximizes benefits to the hydrology and redband habitat of the Watershed while minimizing the conflicts and problems that come with increased activity. Completion and submission of reports, gathering data to assess the the progress achieved by restoration efforts, and protecting the project sites, are also part of the FY2023 Scope of Work.