The soboba band of luise?o indians intends to survey and assess habitat, vegetation, and wildlife on the soboba reservation

The Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service Region 8 awarded the Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians $200,000 under the Tribal Wildlife Grants program (CFDA 15.639) on March 1, 2026.

The Soboba Band will survey and assess habitat, vegetation, and wildlife on the Soboba Reservation over a two-year period ending March 1, 2028, with particular focus on the Soboba Indian Creek Stream Corridor. The work includes developing vegetation survey and wildlife monitoring protocols, training Soboba staff to conduct surveys and operate wildlife monitoring equipment, collecting baseline data on native and invasive vegetation and habitat condition, and using cameras to capture wildlife images and videos for study and protection. Collected data will be analyzed to assess the condition of wildlife, vegetation, and habitats, with results documented in a final technical report presenting recommendations for restoration or mitigation measures and a roadmap for implementing habitat protection and restoration actions. The report will be presented to tribal leadership to inform future tribal conservation decisions.

All work is performed on the Soboba Reservation in California.

The assessment will include the areas most in need of restoration and protection and recommendations for future restoration or mitigation measures. The anticipated period of performance is 2-years and will involve developing vegetation survey and wildlife monitoring protocols. Trainings will take place prior to surveys and wildlife monitoring, and soboba staff members will be trained on how to conduct each survey, use the wildlife monitoring equipment, and develop data QA/QC. Surveys will be conducted to collect baseline data on native and invasive vegetation and habitat condition in the soboba indian creek stream corridor. Wildlife monitoring will include using cameras to capture images and videos that can be used to study and protect wildlife. Collected data will be analyzed to assess condition of wildlife, vegetation, and habitats. These assessments will be summarized in a final technical report which will be presented to tribal leadership. This final report will be developed to provide the tribe with a road map for implementing actions that protect and restore wildlife and habitats on the soboba reservation.