The Upper Columbia Untied Tribes have identified the need to continue to implement wildlife monitoring and evaluation (M&E). Using the Albeni Falls Dam Wildlife Monitoring and Evaluation Plan, the Tribes have pooled 5% of their individual contract resources to initiate a regional perspective to M&E. This approach has been reviewed and endorsed by the ISRP and will be closely linked to work completed between 2001 and 2006 by the Kalispel Tribe. Monitoring of both terrestrial vertebrate assemblages and structure and composition of vegetation provide a basis for comparing the condition of managed lands to reference sites that represent a desired future condition. Data on small mammals, breeding birds, amphibians, and vegetation have been collected over 3 years to describe the spatial and temporal variability at three reference sites for each of eight habitats. Permanent sampling sites are selected through a stratified-random procedure on each of the managed parcels and comparable data are collected at 5-year intervals. Data collected in 2015 completed the first 5-year rotation of all UCUT treatment areas and a retrospective analysis was completed February 2017. An Independent Scientific Review Panel (ISRP) review of the retrospective analysis and the UWMEP statement of work, milestones and work elements was conducted in early 2017 and several questions were raised for review and settlement. The response to the ISRP review was submitted June 2018.

Examination of the changes that occur over time in the taxonomic and structural similarity (For Example, Percent Cover by Species") between managed lands and their appropriate reference conditions could allow determination of the success of management activities in achieving their objectives. UWMEP monitoring informs us whether or not treatment sites are trending towards desired future conditions (reference sites). Information from this project will be stored in a common database and developed to be accessed via a web interface. This information will be used to adaptively manage each project and document techniques used to restore, enhance, or manage each area and habitat type. This approach will reduce costs, increase continuity of data collection, data interpretation, data presentation, and data collection methods.