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 trout habitats. The FY2024 Scope of Work marks the first restoration efforts within the expanded BPA Mitigation Property. Mitigation rights were relinquished on the 414.51 acres of uplands within the original property boundary in favor of mitigation rights to 498.15 acres of additional floodplain. This additional floodplain offers an opportunity to accomplish restoration that can greatly increase benefits to native fish and wildlife habitats in the Hangman Watershed.  
Given the appreciable change in the project size and habitats encompassed, Work Elements for FY2024 include a complete redrafting of the Management Plan for the Property. A Milestone was also added to begin planting native grass within some of the additional floodplain habitats that supported agricultural production up until FY2024.

FY2024 also marks the beginning of an expanded ability to address the restoration needs on Project Sites. A tractor, mower and attachable sprayer will be used to treat weeds within floodplain, and some upland habitats in the early stages of restoration. Weed infestations present the first obstacle to establishing native habitats when transitioning away from agricultural production. The ability to mow areas seeded with native grasses well address the profuse establishment of Ventenata dubia and more quickly remove a host of other weeds that are present in the first years after of native grass seeding.

Efforts in FY2024 will continue the expansion 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. Avista Wetland Mitigation in Hangman encompasses 1,350 acres, that lie along Hangman Creek approximately 2.5 kilometers upstream of the BPA Mitigation Property. Avista Wetland Mitigation efforts within this contiguous property are completely consistent with BPA Wildlife Mitigation and Resident Fish Substitution efforts.

Farm Service Agency’s Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) and the Continuous Conservation Reserve Program (CCRP) offer additional partnership opportunities. FY2024 efforts will CRP and CCRP partnerships on Project Sites on the North Fork of Rock Creek, Rose Creek and Moctileme Creek and attempt to expand this partnership to include additional project sites.

One additional partnership was initiated in the closing months of FY2023 and will expand efforts to improve the natural hydrologic process in the Hangman Watershed. The Coeur d’Alene Tribe is a partner in the Climate Smart initiative and will pursue efforts to alter agricultural practices through the Innovative Agriculture and Marketing Partnership for Idaho (IAMP). This effort is administered by the University of Idaho and partners with the Natural Resource Conservation Service to promote farming practices that reduce green house gasses (GHS) and improve soil moisture and retention capabilities.

The Work Elements in this Scope of Work are grouped under general categories that correspond to Planning and Coordination (Work Elements A through F), Construction and Implementation (Work Elements G through N), and Project Administration (Work Elements O through R).