Nez Perce Tribal Conservation Enforcement Presentation by Chief Adam Villavicencio for the System-wide Provincial Review July 18, Copyright

Conservation Enforcement Vision Bountiful fish, wildlife and plants for the benefit of Nez Perce Tribal members and society through protection and conservation of natural resources into perpetuity.

Conservation Enforcement Goals Enhance law enforcement for resource protection on the reservation and on Treaty lands with an emphasis on protection of ESA- listed species and critical habitats. Maintain the integrity of treaty reserved rights in carrying out tribal co-management responsibilities and regulatory authority by providing law enforcement services as an integral and highly visible component of the tribes' treaty rights to self-regulation.

Conservation Enforcement – is a Division under NPT Fisheries Management

Role of NPT-CE Integrate with Fisheries, Wildlife and Natural Resources Management Protect NPT Fish, Wildlife, Forests, Streams and Lands Protect the Rights of Tribal Members Utilizing Natural Resources (hunters, fishers, gatherers) Coordinate with Enforcement Entities of Co-management Agencies

CE Responsibilities Jurisdiction includes Nez Perce Reservation, Treaty Lands, and Zone 6 Resource Protection includes Fish, Wildlife, Plant Resources, Lands & Waters Enforcement of Hunting & Fishing Seasons and Regulations Public Information & Outreach Additional Responsibilities include Cultural Resources, Parks, and Search & Rescue

Jurisdiction – Clearwater & Salmon River Watersheds + Other Areas

Fish Protection Priorities Fish SpeciesPrimary Patrol Areas SteelheadTucannon, Snake, Grande Ronde, Imnaha, Salmon and Clearwater Rivers Spring chinook salmonClearwater River, Rapid River, & Lookingglass Creek Summer chinook salmonS. Fork Salmon & Imnaha R. Coho salmonClearwater River SturgeonSnake River mainstem Resident fishClearwater R. & trout ponds

Hunting and Gathering Areas: Blue Mountains, Craig Mountains, Bitterroot Mountains, Tribal Reserves, and National Forest Lands Game: waterfowl, deer, elk, moose, and mountain sheep Gathering: roots, berries, mushrooms, woodcutting, herbs, and other medicinal plants

Trends in Enforcement Demand Rationale for Enhanced NPT-CE – public demand and case load increasing 100% increase in cases from 1996 to 1999 Increasing numbers of trespass violations on tribal lands

Enhanced Enforcement Cut in 1998 In 1997 BPA Enhanced F&W Enforcement BPA Budget Cut in 1998 to March 2000 The Result: CE Patrol Effort was Diminished Detection and Prosecution of Fishing & Hunting Violations Declined since 1997

Resumed BPA Funding Results in Increased Enforcement Contacts Annual Average was 160 Contacts by NPT Conservation Officers New NPT-CE Project was funded in March 2000 Contacts increased to 1,025 in 2000 Contacts increased to 2,010 in 2001

Vehicle & Boat Patrol Effort Increased Patrol Effort was re-initiated in March 2000 Total Patrol Effort increased 74% from 2000 to 2001

NPT F&W Enforcement Actions Citations and Warnings have increased 114% -- from 58 in 2000 to 124 in 2001

Ongoing Monitoring & Evaluation is an Integral Part of Enhanced CE Performance is Evaluated in Terms of Input, Output and Outcomes Initial M&E Focus on the Effect of Inputs on Increased Enforcement Outputs More Focus on Biological Outcomes in Future Years Background Data and Recent Results are on M&E Web Site