In response to the Northwest Power and Conservation Council’s request on March 18, 2025, the ISRP reviewed a new proposal from the Spokane Tribe of Indians, titled Upland Wildlife Habitat Management (BPA project #2024-004-00). This new project is called for in a Ten-year Memorandum of Agreement between the Tribe and Bonneville Power Administration. The project’s purpose is to inform management needs for historically and culturally significant wildlife and plant species through prioritization of research, management, restoration, and land acquisition activities on and around the Spokane Tribe of Indian's reservation.
The project has two primary elements: One element will assess current big game populations of elk, moose, whitetail deer, and mule deer and habitat conditions by using regionally standardized data collection methodologies, with the ultimate goal of managing these ungulate populations at sustainable abundance and herd composition levels to allow for subsistence hunting by tribal members. A second project element will focus on the reintroduction of the culturally important Columbian sharp-tailed grouse, an upland bird species.
The Project has the potential to ensure sustainable harvest of big game through population assessments and to benefit wildlife through the targeted restoration of critical habitat for big game and Columbian sharp-tailed grouse. The ISRP appreciates the Spokane Tribe of Indians’ effort in completing the complex proposal and using the format and guidance provided. The proposal serves as a sound starting point to build from. The proposal demonstrates progress in developing big game assessment protocols and preliminary planning for sharp-tailed grouse reintroduction assessments. However, additional details are needed for a number of items including current knowledge of big game harvest and population status and the continuity and linkages among goals and objectives, among other key information needs. The ISRP requests a response and a revised proposal to address review questions and suggestions for improvement.
