Summary Description: Hire watershed coordinator. Facilitate the consolidation and coordination of watershed activities within the Flathead River drainage. Implement studies and restoration activities.

Background: The Flathead Drainage in Montana has experienced a severe decline in the range and number of two native trout species (bull trout, westslope cutthroat trout). Bull trout were recently listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act and westslope cutthroat have been petitioned for listing. A balanced system-wide watershed approach to achieve ecosystem equity is necessary to reverse the downward trends in native species and protect those remaining healthy populations within the Flathead River watershed. This program fosters "grass roots" public involvement and interagency cooperation to achieve watershed restoration both efficiently and cost effectively. BPA has long been involved with the funding of the Cooperative Habitat Protection and Improvement with Private landowners program in accordance with the NPPC's Fish and Wildlife Program. This project initiates the Council's watershed program within the Flathead River basin.

Milestones: Grants enabling the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Nation to hire a coordinator to facilitate the consolidation and coordination of watershed activities with the Flathead River drainage. Contract 1998AP10753 for $15,120 to purchase 110 Optic StowAway thermographs plus other equipment was completed and closed by 1998. Accomplishments 1998: Published Dayton Creek Watershed Restoration Progress Report. Contributed cost-share to Small Landowner workshop sponsored by Montana DNRC. Contributed cost-share to FBC, Voluntary Monitoring Program. Other contributers include Montana Watercourse. Revised grazing plan, built riparian and headwater fence in East Valley Creek. Contributed cost-share (along with NRCS, USFWS, Pheasants Forever, Montana Watershed Inc. landowners, and Lake Co. Conservation District in Valley View to exclude stock from two irrigation canals/creeks entering Flathead River. Received cost-share grant from Fish America Foundation for road obliteration in Valley Creek drainage. This matched federal Jobs in the Woods monies and Salish-Kootenai College equipment time. Received challenge grant from Bring Back the Natives for on-the-ground work in Valley Creek or Jocko River drainage.

Results: Not recorded

Publications:

Publication Title	Report Type	Coverage Years	Published	Pages	DOE/BP Number
Flathead River Focus Watershed Coordinator	Annual	2002 - 2002	Apr 2003		00004374-1 R 215

Project Classification Keys:
Primary: All projects in the Resident Fish Program
Secondary: Fish habitat/ passage projects & watershed efforts
Tertiary: Plan development and coordination

Work Sites

Site/Subsite Names	Site Type	Types of Work Performed
FLATHEAD WATERSHED/	Basin (i.e. whole watersheds)	Management / administration
PABLO/SALISH-KOOTENAI TRIBES HDQTRS	Office (business, hdqtrs, university)	Management / administration

Project Budget and Obligation:

Fiscal Year	Initially Authorized	Latest Authorized	Authorized Change	Obligation In Process	Bonneville Overhead	Contracted Obligation	Contracted Agent
1996	$0	$47,153	$47,153	$0	$0	$47,153	SALISH-KOOTENAI TRIBES
1998	$100,000	$115,120	$15,120	$0	$0	$15,120	ONSET COMPUTER CORP
1998				$0	$0	$32,262	SALISH-KOOTENAI TRIBES
1998				$0	$0	$67,738	SALISH-KOOTENAI TRIBES
Totals:	$100,000	$162,273	$62,273	$0	$0	$162,273	.