Warm Springs Fisheries Development and Outreach

The CTWS Fisheries Department seeks to develop staff and provide operational support across the entire Department to fill operational and infrastructure gaps in critical areas. BPA funding covers restoration project implementation, but has not adequately funded staff training and development, critical equipment and infrastructure needs, or suitable public outreach and watershed education. The Tribal Fisheries Department is committed to continued staff and program development along with engaging through targeted outreach that inform the public about successful implementation of fisheries habitat projects.



Funds from this grant were used for outreach events on the Reservation and within ceded lands programs and to improve work place conditions within reservation buildings, purchase equipment, and provide training.



Worksite #1 On-Reservation Fisheries Habitat Program:

Habitat restoration on the Reservation is guided by the recently completed (2018) Aquatic Restoration Strategy. Project planning, design and fundraising efforts have secured three years of prioritized projects from this Strategy, but improvements to critical infrastructure, equipment and staff development have not kept pace. Outreach to the tribal public and youth will include public meetings to discuss past and future projects, and two movie nights that highlight tribal efforts through tribal restoration project documentaries. Funds will also be used to contract needed repairs on Fisheries Department buildings (windows, flooring, and interior lighting). Staff development through trainings and conference attendance to implement successful fisheries habitat projects. We feel education and outreach extends into the development of fisheries staff, recruitment of new fisheries staff, interaction with the Tribal and outside agency staff through meetings etc. For various reasons the Tribal Branch of Natural Resources buildings have not received regular maintenance for quite some time. This disrepair has resulted in building conditions that do not promote a positive work environment. The conditions hinder the ability to recruit new staff and safely store equipment data and related resources. The funds requested for the repairs are being cost shared across the Natural Resources compound with BPA and BIA making up the majority of the repairs. The specific funds requested will be used to contract floor replacement and paint in two buildings.



Worksite #2 John Day Watershed Restoration Program:

Propose to develop Fisheries Department staff to effectively implement watershed restoration projects in the John Day Basin. The John Day Watershed Restoration Program, through the development of a restoration strategy strives to implement fisheries habitat projects that address limiting factors affecting salmonid production in the John Day Basin. As part of a successful and knowledgeable program, training programs and symposiums geared towards evolving river restoration practices are needed. The training of our personnel ensures knowledge and critical thinking, which leads to well-informed decision making on restoration practices through all aspects of the process, from project planning and implementation to public education. Maintaining the educational support is critical to upholding our Fisheries Habitat Mission Statement, so that we may effectively “protect, manage, and enhance habitat that supports culturally significant fish populations”. Training timeline will cover training, conferences, and workshops in 2020 – 2023. As part of the overall project implementation a Topcon RTK base station and rover will be purchased to assist staff in project development and effectiveness monitoring efforts. Both equipment and training are separate from the Salmon Days educational event, but help to build a successful and knowledgeable program to implement fisheries habitat projects.

Warm Springs Fisheries Outreach will offer the opportunity for students to learn about salmon ecology and conservation, more importantly to understand the present status of salmon and their environments; to understand natural and man-made factors affecting salmon distribution and abundance; to talk about the resilience of people and salmon through the Tribes, youth, harvesters and resource managers. Our main goal is to introduce youth to activities that will spark an interest in salmon ecology and conservation. Students will learn about the salmon life cycle, salmon food web, salmon habitat, water conservation, tribal culture, hatchery operations, and the irrigation and hydro-power systems at an annual Salmon Days event. The program consists of a field trip (“Salmon Days”) at the Parkdale Fish Hatchery. Two lessons are presented within the classroom setting (“Salmon in the Classroom”), and these lessons build upon the principles learned at Salmon Days. This environmental education event is hosted by the CTWS Parkdale Fish Hatchery and Hood River Production Program, with assistance from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Hood River Water and Soil Conservation District, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife staff, and Warm Springs and Yakama tribal members.



Warm Springs Fisheries Development and Outreach will also benefit target salmonid species (Chinook salmon, steelhead, and bull trout) by: furthering the development of staff understanding to implement projects that 1) improve vital spawning and rearing habitat; 2) mitigate deleterious environmental effects; and 3) resorting ecosystem processes and function. (For specific expected benefits of individual projects, see section directly above.) Habitat restoration effectiveness monitoring will be key in assessing the performance of restoration efforts and in identifying fish-limiting factors and guiding implementation of future projects. This will maximize realized benefits to targeted salmonids and ensure that restoration resources and efforts are executed as efficiently as possible and maximize positive results.