Pacific Region Tribes to Receive Nearly $1.2 Million To Protect Species and Restore Habitat
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Acting Director Rowan Gould today announced more than $7 million in grants will go to fund 37 Native American projects that benefit fish and wildlife resources and their habitats. Of those funds, $1,197,437 will be awarded to tribes in Idaho and Washington.
"Tribal Wildlife Grants are much more than a fiscal resource for tribes," Gould said. "The projects and partnerships supported by this program have enhanced our commitment to Native Americans and to the United States' shared wildlife resources."
Since 2003, this program has provided more than $54 million to Native American tribesfor more than 335 conservation projects administered by 162 federally recognized tribes. The majority of the 2011 Tribal Wildlife Grant program funds will be awarded to tribes that have not received a grant previously. The grants provide technical and financial assistance for the development and implementation of projects (including non-game species) that benefit fish, wildlife, cultural and natural resources.
"The Tribal Wildlife Grants program has helped the Service collaborate more effectively with Pacific Region tribes to conserve and restore the vast diversity of fish and wildlife habitats they manage," said Pacific Regional Director Robyn Thorson.
The grants have enabled tribes to develop increased management capacity, improve and enhance relationships with partners including state agencies, address cultural and environmental priorities, and heighten interest of tribal students in fisheries, wildlife and related fields of study. Some grants have been awarded to enhance recovery efforts for threatened and endangered species.
The grants are provided exclusively to federally recognized tribal governments and are made possible under the Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2002 through the State and Tribal Wildlife Grant program.
During the current grant cycle, tribes submitted a total of 141 proposals that were scored by panels in each Fish and Wildlife Service region using uniform ranking criteria. A national scoring panel recommended 37 proposals for funding. Grants awarded in the Pacific Region are:
WASHINGTON
Kalispel Tribe of Indians $200,000
Big Meadows Restoration Project - The Kalispel Tribe of Indians will restore 650 acres of meadow floodplain and stream channel habitat along Goose Creek in Bonner County, Idaho. This project will benefit the severely diminished population of westslope cutthroat trout while providing critical habitat for a variety of other wildlife species.
Makah Tribe $198,696
Cougar and Bobcat Population Study of the Northwest Olympic Peninsula - The Tribe has initiated a Tribal Wildlife Management Plan that will collect data and provide detailed understanding of cougar and bobcat populations on the Olympic Peninsula. Critical information will be gathered, and collection of baseline data will assist the Tribe in re-colonization efforts that will provide a more thorough understanding of the current habitat use patterns, home range size, relative abundance, productivity, prey selection, and survival rates of both species. This data will also provide the opportunity to measure changes in cougar and bobcat populations, behavior, and resource use. This information will also provided needed information on understanding how wolves affect bobcats, cougars, and ungulate populations after wolf colonization occurs.
Nisqually Indian Tribe $199,923
Ohop Valley Recovery Monitoring Project - The Nisqually Indian Tribe's 2011 project will compliment the Tribe's 2007 TWG project that initiated the restoration of the Ohop Valley. This project will increase the number of miles reverted to a forested habitat with a functional creek and wetlands for the benefit of salmon and other native fish and wildlife. This grant will expand on the restored wildlife corridor wildlife corridor
To maintain healthy species populations and ecosystems, fish and wildlife need the freedom to move and migrate. As habitats and migration routes are affected by climate change and fragmented by roads, fences, energy development and other man-made barriers, wildlife struggle to reach necessary areas to feed, breed and find shelter. A wildlife corridor is a piece of undeveloped land connecting two habitats so wildlife can move safely between them.
Learn more about wildlife corridor connecting protected wildlife lands along the Nisqually River and the adjacent Mashel River watershed and the forestry lands that stretch to Mount Rainier National Park. The first phase abandoned 0.7 miles of ditched Ohop Creek and then re-created a one-mile section of Ohop Creek, reconnecting wetlands and the flood plain and the re-vegetation of over 100 acres of valley bottom.
The full restoration plan for the Valley calls for repeating this project along another four miles of the creek and re-vegetating the adjacent valley floor. The information gathered by monitoring this first phase will be used to design the next phases of restoration, to evaluate the success of the first phase in restoring the ecosystem processes that support increased biodiversity in the valley, and to understand how fish and wildlife are responding to the restoration. This grant will also assist with monitoring surface water quality; ground and surface water quantity, re-vegetation success and re-colonization rates, salmon summer and winter usage, and wildlife usage, especially elks, beavers, waterfowl and amphibians.
Quinault Indian Nation $198,904
Institutionalize the Quinault Habitat Restoration Program - The Quinault Indian Nation's grant will enhance the Quinault Habitat Restoration Program with two new staff positions within the Quinault Division of Natural Resources. A Habitat Restoration Coordinator will work on salmonid restoration projects on the Quinault Indian Reservation and surrounding areas of interest. The Invasive Species Coordinator will work to eradicate invasive species invasive species
An invasive species is any plant or animal that has spread or been introduced into a new area where they are, or could, cause harm to the environment, economy, or human, animal, or plant health. Their unwelcome presence can destroy ecosystems and cost millions of dollars.
Learn more about invasive species on the Quinault Indian Reservation and surrounding areas of interest.
Suquamish Tribe $199,914
Assessing and Preparing for Impacts of Ocean Acidification and Hypoxia on Dungeness Crab Populations in the Pacific Northwest - The Suquamish Tribe has designed a two-year project to expand a multi-phase research plan designed to determine the case of the crab fishery collapse, guide tribal and state harvest managers in aiding its recovery and provide information to help regional leaders plan for changes to local conditions resulting from ocean acidification. This grant will produce a Comprehensive Research Plan that will include data on the effects of sub-optimal water quality on C. magister larvae; controlled laboratory studies to assess the effects of dissolved oxygen and pH on larval development and survival with results expected within two years; build long- term monitoring capacity to characterize crab larvae development and surrounding water quality; measure water quality parameters for pH, dissolved oxygen, total alkalinity, temperature and conductivity; identify characterization of C. magister larval settlement patterns; and plan and execute outreach efforts in the form of regional workshops and trainings to inform the public about expected impacts from ocean acidification and help them formulate approaches to address and adapt to climate change climate change
Climate change includes both global warming driven by human-induced emissions of greenhouse gases and the resulting large-scale shifts in weather patterns. Though there have been previous periods of climatic change, since the mid-20th century humans have had an unprecedented impact on Earth's climate system and caused change on a global scale.
Learn more about climate change .
IDAHO
Nez Perce Tribe $200,000
Restoration of Bighorn Sheep Populations and Habitats - In 2008, the tribe initiated a long-term Salmon River Bighorn Sheep Restoration Initiative that included research and monitoring, review of population threats to habitat, and restoration plan development and implementation. Phase I of the Restoration Initiative provided a better understanding of the current status of bighorn sheep in the canyon and provided the needed science-based data for land management planning. The 2011 TWG project (Phase II) will continue the Tribe's ongoing Restoration Initiative by supporting tribal leadership participation in federal agency NEPA land management policy reviews for the protection of bighorn sheep habitat within the Salmon River.
The grants are provided exclusively to federally-recognized Indian tribal governments and are made possible under the Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2002 through the State and Tribal Wildlife Grant program. The Request for Proposals for the 2012 grant cycle will be open until September 2, 2011. For more information and a TWG Application Kit, visit http://www.fws.gov/nativeamerican/grants.html.
Connect with our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/usfws, follow our tweets at www.twitter.com/usfwshq, watch our YouTube Channel at http://www.youtube.com/usfws and download photos from our Flickr page at http://www.flickr.com/photos/usfwshq
"Tribal Wildlife Grants are much more than a fiscal resource for tribes," Gould said. "The projects and partnerships supported by this program have enhanced our commitment to Native Americans and to the United States' shared wildlife resources."
Since 2003, this program has provided more than $54 million to Native American tribesfor more than 335 conservation projects administered by 162 federally recognized tribes. The majority of the 2011 Tribal Wildlife Grant program funds will be awarded to tribes that have not received a grant previously. The grants provide technical and financial assistance for the development and implementation of projects (including non-game species) that benefit fish, wildlife, cultural and natural resources.
"The Tribal Wildlife Grants program has helped the Service collaborate more effectively with Pacific Region tribes to conserve and restore the vast diversity of fish and wildlife habitats they manage," said Pacific Regional Director Robyn Thorson.
The grants have enabled tribes to develop increased management capacity, improve and enhance relationships with partners including state agencies, address cultural and environmental priorities, and heighten interest of tribal students in fisheries, wildlife and related fields of study. Some grants have been awarded to enhance recovery efforts for threatened and endangered species.
The grants are provided exclusively to federally recognized tribal governments and are made possible under the Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2002 through the State and Tribal Wildlife Grant program.
During the current grant cycle, tribes submitted a total of 141 proposals that were scored by panels in each Fish and Wildlife Service region using uniform ranking criteria. A national scoring panel recommended 37 proposals for funding. Grants awarded in the Pacific Region are:
WASHINGTON
Kalispel Tribe of Indians $200,000
Big Meadows Restoration Project - The Kalispel Tribe of Indians will restore 650 acres of meadow floodplain and stream channel habitat along Goose Creek in Bonner County, Idaho. This project will benefit the severely diminished population of westslope cutthroat trout while providing critical habitat for a variety of other wildlife species.
Makah Tribe $198,696
Cougar and Bobcat Population Study of the Northwest Olympic Peninsula - The Tribe has initiated a Tribal Wildlife Management Plan that will collect data and provide detailed understanding of cougar and bobcat populations on the Olympic Peninsula. Critical information will be gathered, and collection of baseline data will assist the Tribe in re-colonization efforts that will provide a more thorough understanding of the current habitat use patterns, home range size, relative abundance, productivity, prey selection, and survival rates of both species. This data will also provide the opportunity to measure changes in cougar and bobcat populations, behavior, and resource use. This information will also provided needed information on understanding how wolves affect bobcats, cougars, and ungulate populations after wolf colonization occurs.
Nisqually Indian Tribe $199,923
Ohop Valley Recovery Monitoring Project - The Nisqually Indian Tribe's 2011 project will compliment the Tribe's 2007 TWG project that initiated the restoration of the Ohop Valley. This project will increase the number of miles reverted to a forested habitat with a functional creek and wetlands for the benefit of salmon and other native fish and wildlife. This grant will expand on the restored wildlife corridor wildlife corridor
To maintain healthy species populations and ecosystems, fish and wildlife need the freedom to move and migrate. As habitats and migration routes are affected by climate change and fragmented by roads, fences, energy development and other man-made barriers, wildlife struggle to reach necessary areas to feed, breed and find shelter. A wildlife corridor is a piece of undeveloped land connecting two habitats so wildlife can move safely between them.
Learn more about wildlife corridor connecting protected wildlife lands along the Nisqually River and the adjacent Mashel River watershed and the forestry lands that stretch to Mount Rainier National Park. The first phase abandoned 0.7 miles of ditched Ohop Creek and then re-created a one-mile section of Ohop Creek, reconnecting wetlands and the flood plain and the re-vegetation of over 100 acres of valley bottom.
The full restoration plan for the Valley calls for repeating this project along another four miles of the creek and re-vegetating the adjacent valley floor. The information gathered by monitoring this first phase will be used to design the next phases of restoration, to evaluate the success of the first phase in restoring the ecosystem processes that support increased biodiversity in the valley, and to understand how fish and wildlife are responding to the restoration. This grant will also assist with monitoring surface water quality; ground and surface water quantity, re-vegetation success and re-colonization rates, salmon summer and winter usage, and wildlife usage, especially elks, beavers, waterfowl and amphibians.
Quinault Indian Nation $198,904
Institutionalize the Quinault Habitat Restoration Program - The Quinault Indian Nation's grant will enhance the Quinault Habitat Restoration Program with two new staff positions within the Quinault Division of Natural Resources. A Habitat Restoration Coordinator will work on salmonid restoration projects on the Quinault Indian Reservation and surrounding areas of interest. The Invasive Species Coordinator will work to eradicate invasive species invasive species
An invasive species is any plant or animal that has spread or been introduced into a new area where they are, or could, cause harm to the environment, economy, or human, animal, or plant health. Their unwelcome presence can destroy ecosystems and cost millions of dollars.
Learn more about invasive species on the Quinault Indian Reservation and surrounding areas of interest.
Suquamish Tribe $199,914
Assessing and Preparing for Impacts of Ocean Acidification and Hypoxia on Dungeness Crab Populations in the Pacific Northwest - The Suquamish Tribe has designed a two-year project to expand a multi-phase research plan designed to determine the case of the crab fishery collapse, guide tribal and state harvest managers in aiding its recovery and provide information to help regional leaders plan for changes to local conditions resulting from ocean acidification. This grant will produce a Comprehensive Research Plan that will include data on the effects of sub-optimal water quality on C. magister larvae; controlled laboratory studies to assess the effects of dissolved oxygen and pH on larval development and survival with results expected within two years; build long- term monitoring capacity to characterize crab larvae development and surrounding water quality; measure water quality parameters for pH, dissolved oxygen, total alkalinity, temperature and conductivity; identify characterization of C. magister larval settlement patterns; and plan and execute outreach efforts in the form of regional workshops and trainings to inform the public about expected impacts from ocean acidification and help them formulate approaches to address and adapt to climate change climate change
Climate change includes both global warming driven by human-induced emissions of greenhouse gases and the resulting large-scale shifts in weather patterns. Though there have been previous periods of climatic change, since the mid-20th century humans have had an unprecedented impact on Earth's climate system and caused change on a global scale.
Learn more about climate change .
IDAHO
Nez Perce Tribe $200,000
Restoration of Bighorn Sheep Populations and Habitats - In 2008, the tribe initiated a long-term Salmon River Bighorn Sheep Restoration Initiative that included research and monitoring, review of population threats to habitat, and restoration plan development and implementation. Phase I of the Restoration Initiative provided a better understanding of the current status of bighorn sheep in the canyon and provided the needed science-based data for land management planning. The 2011 TWG project (Phase II) will continue the Tribe's ongoing Restoration Initiative by supporting tribal leadership participation in federal agency NEPA land management policy reviews for the protection of bighorn sheep habitat within the Salmon River.
The grants are provided exclusively to federally-recognized Indian tribal governments and are made possible under the Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2002 through the State and Tribal Wildlife Grant program. The Request for Proposals for the 2012 grant cycle will be open until September 2, 2011. For more information and a TWG Application Kit, visit http://www.fws.gov/nativeamerican/grants.html.
Connect with our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/usfws, follow our tweets at www.twitter.com/usfwshq, watch our YouTube Channel at http://www.youtube.com/usfws and download photos from our Flickr page at http://www.flickr.com/photos/usfwshq
