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 recovery programs of the UCFWO and CWFO are now soliciting proposals for restoration or recovery projects for fiscal year 2009. Proposals will be ranked and prioritized for funding near the beginning of each calander year.

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.

Download the proposal form for use in project submission.

If you have any questions concerning the above information, please contact us at (509) 891-6839 and ask for the Recovery Coordinator.