Performance Work Statement: The objective of this project is to conduct the daily operation and maintenance of wildlife lands acquired through the Spokane Tribe Wildlife Mitigation Project (1991-062-00). This project focuses on the reduction of noxious weeds (cover cropping, prescribed burning, chemical, mechanical, and biological controls), removal of livestock, improving access roads, restoration (non-BPA funding), and other lesser essentials on wildlife lands.

Purpose: The objectives within the overall SOW are encompassed within many different work elements to satisfy the continued operations and maintenance on these mitigation project lands. The reduction of noxious weeds is the largest ongoing component of the project. There is increasing concern from the surrounding counties about the introduction of weeds into new wildlife lands. To increase the success of implementation actions, noxious weed control will take on a more structured approach through the creation of a Weed Management Plan. The Weed Management Plan establishes an effective strategy in the near-term, and also begins to outline a plan of action for the future to combat noxious weeds on wildlife lands. Completion of the Weed Management Plan in FY23 became integrated into the program's strategy providing effective structure to manage for noxious weed on mitigation lands. Other projects have illustrated that an integrated approach of cover cropping, prescribed burning, chemical, mechanical, and biological control is the most effective strategy in reducing noxious weed populations over the long-term.

Emphases: This FY24 SOW reflects a continuation of most prior contract actions. Beyond a more deliberate weed control regime, the removal of domestic livestock from wildlife lands is still a primary focus. New fence construction continues to be de-emphasized, but maintenance of previously installed fencing is still a significant part of project efforts. Additionally, addressing the maintenance and/or decommissioning of roads within dispersed wildlife lands is a priority management emphasis and is crucial for access to complete work elements within the project areas. There are several other components that are also critical for the success of operations and maintenance on wildlife lands (additional road de-commissions, debris removal, etc).

Additional Actions: Project management activities in 2023-24 will also encompass or continue the following major tasks and initiatives:

1) Vegetation Removal (forest thinning and group selection harvest): Continue to follow the Silviculture prescriptions and recommendations provided by the Tribal Forester, to thin over-stocked (decadent) forest stands to restore viability and variability in habitat conditions for wildlife

2) The continuation of fire restoration focusing on weed control, reforestation, reseeding, and riparian restoration for both the Carpenter Road Fire of 2015 and also the Cause Mountain Fire of 2016.

3) Focus on creating hardwood monitoring system within mitigation lands with emphasis on collecting and analyzing data to develop management strategies to improve hardwood stand health, longevity, and regeneration.
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Background: The Spokane Wildlife Mitigation project began in 1998 with management activities (O&M) beginning on the initial 1863 acres of land that was purchased on the Spokane Indian Reservation in 1996 through1998. The purpose of the Spokane Tribe Wildlife Mitigation Operation & Maintenance project is for the management of wildlife lands that have been purchased through the original Blue Creek Winter Range project. In 2007, the Blue Creek Winter Range Project acquired an additional 3926 acres which added to the O&M project. These new lands are incorporated into the O&M project with the Site Specific Management Plans updates.

Initial activities began with Habitat Evaluation Procedures (HEP) surveys on those properties. HSI models used for HEP analysis included White-tailed deer, Mule Deer, Yellow warbler (for Riparian forest), Sharp-tailed grouse, Ruffed grouse, and Western Meadowlark (for Mourning dove) for losses which were associated with the construction and inundation of Grand Coulee Dam. Results of the HEP analysis were then used to help direct the management activities that take place on the Wildlife properties. Primary activities that have been conducted include, but are not limited to, fencing (removal, construction, and repair), noxious weed control (mechanical, chemical and biological), access road maintenance, and site clean-up. Past enhancement and habitat improvement activities on these lands includes native grass establishment, native tree & shrub establishment, tree thinning, riparian/stream channel restoration, and water development.

Cost-Share Activities on WMA’s: Funding of enhancement activities through the O&M project has been limited to only a few small scale projects, while large scale enhancements have been funded by the Spokane Tribe of Indians (STOI), USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), and the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission. The Tribe and the Service are working together to conduct enhancement activities on riparian and upland habitats at some of the individual Wildlife Mitigation Area's. Enhancements that occur on BPA-acquired lands that are funded by non-BPA dollars will be reported on the cost-share tab at the project-level in CBFish, and within the Bi-Annual Progress Report.