The confederated tribes of the umatilla indian reservation (ctuir) has been engaged with reclamation in identifying, developing, implementing, monitoring, and advancing the science and understanding…

The Bureau of Reclamation awarded the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) a $923,737 cooperative agreement under the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act program (CFDA 15.517) effective May 2, 2025 through April 30, 2030. CTUIR will execute habitat improvement and fish research, monitoring, and evaluation (RME) projects across the Grande Ronde Basin, including restoration activities at Ronde River Ranch, McCoy Meadows (Yakaxipa), Catherine Creek (Saxsaaxinma), Meadow Creek, Habberstad, and Grande Ronde Valley planning efforts. The agency will leverage over a decade of established partnership with Reclamation to advance the science and understanding of habitat restoration and endangered species recovery in support of Columbia River System ESA-listed salmonid recovery actions mandated by the 2020 NOAA Biological Opinion.

The deliverables will contribute directly to Reclamation's Grande Ronde Basin recovery requirements for endangered salmonids while providing secondary public benefits through enhanced angling opportunities, wildlife viewing potential, and healthy, harvestable fish population development. The award will support rural employment in Oregon and reinvest funding within the local community through CTUIR's implementation of these ecosystem restoration initiatives.

Activities

Ctuir shall complete the projects and activities identified below.habitat improvement projects ronde river ranch mccoy meadows (yakaxipa) catherine creek (saxsaaxinma) meadow creek habberstad grande ronde valley planningfish research, monitoring, and evaluation (RME) projects mccoy meadows meadow creek watershed upper grande ronde catherine creekexpected deliverables or outcomes: this project will contribute to achieving reclamations required grande ronde basin recovery actions for ESA-listed salmonids from the columbia river system 2020 NOAA biop.

Intended beneficiaries

The public should benefit from the habitat work through enhanced angling (moving toward healthy and harvestable fish populations) and wildlife viewing opportunities. Additionally, the funds from this agreement will support rural jobs and ultimately be reinvested by the recipient in the local community. Subrecipient activities (if known or specified at time of award): n a