FY 2014 Policy Coordination and Oversight of Salmon Recovery Efforts in the Skagit River Watershed

Project augmented Skagit River watershed habitat protection and recovery efforts, through the development and refinement of policy through participation in intra-/inter-tribal and multi-stakeholder forums. Project supported tribal staff capacity to direct and coordinate Sauk-Suiattle natural Resource Department and Skagit River System Cooperative staff to ensure the necessary monitoring, research, enhancement, restoration, fishery, and conservation strategies were implemented. The project also provided policy and technical involvement and input for the Puget Sound Energy and Seattle City Light hydroelectric projects mitigation measures. Participation supported in part by this project resulted in the development of strategies and policies to meet ESA listing and recovery obligations.

There is an overlap between fiscal years 2014 and 2015 funding on this ongoing project activities. The reason for this is the nature of the accounting process. The tribe does their internal accounting by project while NWIFC combines projects to draw down by fiscal year. The one except is the professional services funds transferred to SRSC which is drawn down by line item consequently being invoiced in next fiscal year even though previous fiscal year is not closed. SRSC is responsible for their own reporting also. An additional reason for the overlap is the activities associated with a new key element in the fiscal year 2015 project which was for the policy and technical involvement towards the development of a draft Skagit Steelhead recovery plan.

Objective 1: Policy Development and Refinement
Benefit: Ensure that Sauk-Suiattle Indian Tribe (SSIT) has a voice in local and regional fish habitat management issues such as habitat preservation and restoration, maintaining sufficient in-stream flows, land use actions/permitting. SSIT has a vote on SCL and PSE hydroelectric power projects mitigation committees that helps assure the funds are used for salmon recovery.

Objective 2: Supervise, Direct and Coordinate SSIT and SRSC personnel
Benefit: Improved direction and coordination of all aspects of salmon and watershed management activities. Improved information flow between SSIT and SRSC personnel and the Tribal Council, Hunting & Fishing Committee, and the tribal community at large. Improved coordination between SSIT and SRSC programs and eliminated duplicate efforts.

Objective 3: Policy oversight to help meet Endangered Species Act compliance. This objective covers Puget Sound Harvest Management Plan, HGMPs, Skagit Chinook Recovery Plan, and the development of Skagit Steelhead recovery plan.