Omak Creek 2003 Habitat Acquisition

Acquisition of this site was intended protect an important 4-acre property and associated riparian habitat on lower Omak Creek at the confluence with the Okanogan River. Omak Creek is used by listed Upper Columbia ESU summer steelhead for spawning and rearing. The confluence of Omak Creek and the Okanogan River is also important habitat for summer/fall Chinook salmon. This 4-acre property includes river frontage on both Okanogan River and Omak Creek and is located across the creek from habitat previously acquired by the Colville Tribes. Acquisition of this property would compliment these prior habitat acquisitions. Habitat associated with this property is important to Upper Columbia ESU summer steelhead and Okanogan River summer Chinook. The proposed project includes completion of all necessary permitting, negotiations with land owners, property appraisal, and purchase of property. This property was also identified as important because it would provide access to Omak Creek at a stie that would be optimal for location of a permanent trap for use in the Colville Tribes locally adapted summer stealhead broodstock program and in the Tribes monitoring and evaluation activities.

However, upon further investigation the Colville Tribes learned that a culturally sensitive site was located in the general vicinity of this property. Because of the proximity of this culturally sensitive site it will not be possible to located a permanent trap at the site. Additionally, at this time the Tribes have not come to an agreement to purchase the property with the current owner. Because of these complications the Tribes have elected not to pursue acquisition of this property. The Colville Tribes will be submitting a request to NOAA Fishereis in late 2004 requesting that funds allocated to this project be reprogrammed.

The Tribe has subsequently identified properties for acquistion, has completed an appraisal of the property, reviewed the appraisal, made recommendations to the Colville Business Council, and is ready to begin the purchasing process. The land purchase is less than originally estimated. Therefore, a budget modification is being requested to move the remaining funds to CCT03-4 Objective 3. A cultural resource survey will be done in early summer of 2005. Objective 2- A subcontractor will be selected to seed and revegetate the identified areas of Omak Creek in the spring of 2005. Objective 3- A monitoring plan will be developed upon completion of the property acquistion. Monitoring will begin subsequent to the revegetation activities identified in Objective 2.

Protect and improve Upper Columbia ESU summer steelhead, and summer chinook spawning and rearing habitat.