Recovery Program

The Upper Columbia Fish and Wildlife Office is involved in a number of recovery efforts for federally listed species, including some wide ranging species with very complex (biologically and socially) recovery requirements. This office is the FWS lead for recovery of two endangered transboundary species, the Selkirk Mountains woodland caribou and the Kootenai River white sturgeon, and is a participant in the Upper Columbia (River) White Sturgeon Recovery Initiative. The UCFWO is the Region 1 lead for Canada lynx issues, and is represented on Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee (IGBC) subcommittees for the Selkirk and Cabinet-Yaak grizzly bear populations, overseeing recovery and management efforts for these grizzly bear populations.

The office also has the lead for recovery of the Wenatchee Mountains checkermallow, and the endangered Columbia Basin distinct population segment of the pygmy rabbit. The UCFWO is working with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Oregon Zoo, and Washington State University on captive breeding and recovery efforts for the pygmy rabbit.

Office staff work closely with members of the governments of British Columbia, Idaho, and Washington State, Tribes, as well as other federal and state agencies, NGO’s, and stakeholders in a variety of efforts to protect species’ habitat and enhance recovery efforts.

The restoration/recovery programs of the UCFWO and CWFO solicit proposals near the beggining of each fiscal year for restoration or recovery projects to be funded during that fiscal year.

View the map showing the areas where the Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program (PFW) is focusing most of the funding and technical assistance available through this program. Limited PFW funding is available for projects outside of these focus areas , and they are considered a lower priority in our ranking criteria. Proposals that are submitted but not accepted for consideration each year will be kept on file for possible future consideration.

Projects may consist of restoration, recovery, assessment, or research. Priority will, however, be placed on “on-the-ground” projects that restore or enhance fish and wildlife and/or their habitats, with emphasis placed on well-planned projects benefiting federally listed/candidate species and their habitats or improving listed species numbers. Additional emphasis will be placed on projects that achieve a published recovery goal.

See "Frequently Asked Questions"

Download the proposal form for use in project submission.

If you have any questions concerning the above information, please contact Suzanne Audet at (509) 893-8002, Juliet Barenti at (509) 893-8005, or Greg Van Stralen at (509) 665-3508, extension 20, or by email at : suzanne_audet@fws.gov , juliet_barenti@fws.gov), or greg_vanstralen@fws.gov.