This project aims to merge traditional ecological knowledge with modern technology and western science to monitor key species and guide ecosystem restoration in the mid-klamath basin of northern…

The Karuk Tribe of California received a $200,000 Project Grant from the U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service under the Tribal Wildlife Grants program (CFDA 15.639) effective October 1, 2025, through October 1, 2027. This award supports wildlife monitoring and habitat restoration initiatives in the Mid-Klamath Basin of Northern California through the integration of traditional ecological knowledge with modern scientific methods. Key deliverables include staff training in bird song identification and acoustic recording unit (ARU) data processing; field surveys for North American beavers and western pond turtles following dam removal; deployment of GPS loggers to guide turtle habitat restoration; environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis to assess beaver presence; and deployment of ARUs and game cameras to monitor gray wolf and large mammal re-emergence in Karuk territory.

The project further supports educational outreach programming designed to promote intergenerational learning and youth involvement in wildlife conservation efforts. These activities directly enhance the Karuk Tribe's capacity for wildlife habitat management and restoration while advancing eco-cultural revitalization and holistic ecological forest management objectives. The Tribal Wildlife Grants program, which provides financial and technical assistance to federally recognized tribes for wildlife conservation activities benefiting fish, wildlife resources, and their habitats—including species of Native American cultural importance—aligns this project with broader Service and tribal performance goals for species management and habitat enhancement.

This project aims to merge traditional ecological knowledge with modern technology and western science to monitor key species and guide ecosystem restoration in the mid-klamath basin of northern california. Through this project, tribal staff will receive training in bird song identification and data processing using acoustic recording units (arus). Surveys will be conducted for north american beavers and western pond turtles post-DAM removal, as well as deploying GPS loggers for turtle habitat restoration. Additionally, environmental DNA samples will be collected and analyzed to assess beaver presence, while arus and game cameras will monitor the RE-emergence of gray wolves and other large mammals in karuk territory. Educational outreach will promote intergenerational learning and youth involvement in wildlife conservation. This project seeks to enhance the karuk tribe s capacity for managing and restoring wildlife habitats, aligning with their vision of ECO-cultural revitalization and holistic ecological forest management.