The NEZ perce TRIBE (TRIBE)S water rights administration program is applying for the bureau of reclamations native american affairs: technical assistance to tribes for fiscal year 2024

NEZ perce is seeking funding to support responsibilities outlined by the tribal water code, including enhancing streamflow monitoring abilities, improving tribal water rights allocation, and advancing staff capacity to make informed water management decisions. NEZ perce proposes to extend coverage of stream monitoring by reinstating the U.S. Geological survey (USGS) gage at clear creek in kooskia, ID and installing telemetry gages on six of the thirteen currently monitored streams (sweetwater, cottonwood, JIM ford, little canyon, three mile, and seven mile creeks) that are prioritized for hatchery and cultural purposes, allowing for real-time and year-round data monitoring. In conjunction with the telemetry gages, staff would like to install new pressure transducers in the remaining seven streams that use the same software as the telemetry gages allowing for streamlined data integration. Funds will be used to purchase the equipment mentioned above, support staff time to complete stream flow surveys and analyze collected data, and cover costs for data analysis software that will help disseminate information to interested parties. Finally, the program requests funds to support staff time to continue administering, allocating, and protecting the water resources the nimipuu people rely on. The proposed project will require the full two-year time limit and plans to begin in march of 2025 (or as soon as funds are accessible to program staff) and complete in march of 2027 (or two years after funds are accessible by program staff). This project directly supports the nofos goals which are to financially assist with projects and activities that develop, manage, and protect tribal water and related resources. The outcomes of our project proposal are to properly address the foremost issue of water preservation and advance water monitoring capabilities to understand and manage water supply in tributary streams of the clearwater river basin.