Natural Resource Department Overview

The Natural Resources Department manages just under 1.4 million acres within the exterior boundaries of the Colville Reservation and over 2400acres on allotments in our traditional and accustomed areas off- reservation.We work with local, state, federal, and international entities on trans-boundary and multi-jurisdictional issues. Our management supports the Tribes Holistic Goal and approved management plans. Revenues generated go into the Tribes’ annual budget as well as to individual Tribal landowners.

There are eleven programs within the Natural Resources Department with approximately 300 employees. Programs, Goals, and Services include:

Environmental Trust Goals/Services
• To protect and enhance water and soil quality of the Reservation through providing baseline water data and assessments to assist resource planning and management; implementing sediment quality analysis studies; developing reports that describe Reservation water quality and quantity conditions, trends in conditions and management programs designed to address these issues; and evaluating success of programs in achieving desired resource conditions and departmental objectives; assisting state water supply forecasting and Reservation fire management activities by implementing snow survey plan.

• To ensure sustainable and productive Reservation soils by interpreting soils and inventory data and developing best management practices for Reservation soil types and sensitivity classes; assisting Tribal Members and NRD programs by making site-specific soil investigations, evaluations and management recommendations, coordinating with other programs and agencies in soil protection, stabilization and restoration activities.

• To help achieve sustainable ecosystems and integrated natural resources management by overseeing the water, watershed and soil resources portion of the Integrated Resource Management Plan; by developing and implementing management plans and performing activities to facilitate soil/water management and land use planning.

• To revise Tribal water quality standards, perform interior Reservation standards revisions, and establish boundary water standards and TMDLs.

• To protect Tribal water rights, aquatic resources and instream values by overseeing a water use program and the Tribal water code.

• To protect water quality and human/environmental health by overseeing an on-site wastewater program and the Tribal wastewater code.

• To improve accuracy, quantity and availability of water resources data to users and other programs to ensure water resource protection on an integrated watershed basis.

• To protect people, property and resource values by operating a federal dam safety program.

• To help provide for sustainability and high water quality for forest watershed by administering the Tribal Forest Practices Act and Washington State Forest Practices regulations.

• To work with other groups and agencies by assessing quality of boundary waters and making recommendations for policies and actions to protect and enhance boundary waters of the Reservation.

• To protect residents of the Reservation from unhealthy exposure to lead and other contaminants through the Brownfields project.

• To protect the Air Quality of the Reservation by adopting a Tribal air code and building program capacity.

• To reduce exposure of Reservation population to unhealthy environmental risks contributed by hazardous substances from the Reservation through regulation and cleanups.

• To ensure compliance with NEPA and other Federal Environmental Laws and help protect Tribal lands from environmental damage through oversight.

Facility Maintenance Goals/Services
• To provide a clean, safe, healthy environment for employees and their clients and vendors.

• To protect the Tribes’ and BIA’s investments in workplaces and equipment.

Fish and Wildlife Goals/Services
• To maintain viable populations of native and desirable non-native species and their supporting habitats for the purpose of providing fisheries and to meet cultural, subsistence, and recreational needs of the Colville Tribal Membership.

• To acquire land (Tribal and private) to manage for the sole benefit of selected species.

• To contribute to the recovery and management of listed (Federal or State: Endangered, Threatened, Candidate or Sensitive) populations and/or habitats by restoring or protecting quality and effectiveness for listed species. To manage habitat to prevent listing of species.

• To provide a service to the Tribal (Reservation and allotments) and non-Tribal residents that will address animal depredation issues to assure for the safety and well being of individuals and property.

• To provide adequate information to the Tribal Membership and general public on hunting and fishing regulations and issues.

• To maintain a functional Fish and Wildlife Program that meets the needs and desires of the Tribal Membership which protects the sovereignty of the Colville Reservation; the Tribes reserved hunting, fishing and gathering rights; and the individual identities of the 12 Tribes and their respective regions.

Forestry Goals/Services
• To streamline the Timber Sale Process by developing a 5-year timber sale plan consistent with the Colville Agency Integrated Resource Management Plan (IRMP), specifically to harvest 78 mmbf annually and to review inoperable areas.

• To continue to manage and protect forests in an efficient manner by following the current IRMP and Forest Management Plan (FMP).

• To establish an inventory of old growth forests through professional survey and completion of the Continuous Forest Inventory (CFI) of the Colville Reservation as scheduled.

• To provide modern and adequate facilities for all natural resources staff for access to technology through assessment of needs and funding.

• To examine current fire control practices with recommendation to the Colville Business Council.

Geographic Information System/Resource Information Analysis (GIS/RIA) Goals/Services
• To provide the Natural Resource programs with centralized and updated project level GIS databases.

• To provide NRD and other Tribal programs with GIS Internet mapping services.

• To provide NRD with cost effective GIS software and hardware training.

• To conduct a GIS Needs Assessment for NRD.

• To implement metadata standards and policies for all NRD geospatial databases.

• To promote an educational outreach program for GIS proliferation with the CCT.

Integrated Resources Management Program (IRMP) Goals/Services
• To ensure implementation of approved IRMP, Resource Management Plans, and project plans through coordination of the Tribes’ Project Proposal Process (3P).

• To ensure project environmental review, analysis, and documentation for NEPA compliance.

• To ensure NR programs implementation of IRMP and 3P through oversight, evaluation, guidance, and reports.

• To ensure IRMP and Holistic Goal integration in NR programs activities by participating in standing and ad hoc committees.

Land Operations Goals/Services
• To ensure that rangeland resources are properly managed ecologically by setting proper carrying capacities in each range unit; implementing grazing practices for each range unit to ensure proper distribution and protection of riparian areas; and implementing a monitoring program to ensure grazing practices are working.

• To reduce impacts of weeds on Reservation lands by operating a weeds control program in coordination with local boards.

• To ensure that bills are issued, fees collected, and landowners are paid fair market value by maintaining a current appraisal of the range resources and administering a billing and collection process.

• To ensure range input into watershed plans in Omak Creek, Owhi Lake, Frosty Meadows and IRMP.

• To assist the Realty Branch with technical advice and inspection.

• To develop relationships with other federal, state, and local agencies to ensure consistent resource policies.

• To implement, monitor, and update codes, policies, and regulations as needed.

Parks and Recreation Goals/Services
• To provide a clean, safe, secure and healthy environment for employees and visitors at the Mt. Tolman Complex.

• To provide leadership in operations and management.

• To provide leadership in planning and operations for program.

• To implement coordination of agreements with other programs and outside agencies.

• To develop short/long term plans for program.

• To maintain facilities and equipment.

• To develop a campground upgrade plan.

• To provide for the needs of the membership and community at community events, family gatherings, Tribal events, funerals, memorials, school events, etc.

• To maintain and provide safe and sanitary campgrounds and roadside facilities.

• To provide the membership and the general public with the best facilities possible by continuing to upgrade campground facilities, public information and identifying new campsite areas.

• To continue to provide for the safety and welfare of the general public through enforcement activities.

• To continue to work with other agencies to enforce Tribal laws and to provide assistance.

Realty Goals/Services
• To enhance services, maximize and ensure proper utilization of trust properties, Tribal or individually owned, to it’s highest and best use.

• To streamline processes to become a more timely service by updating ownership maps and data base, seeking funding for fee acquisitions, adopting a probate code to reduce fractionation, and adopting an Indian Land Consolidation Plan.

• To serve Tribes and Tribal Members through coordinating cadastral surveys, securing appraisals, overseeing leasing, assisting Tribes in purchasing trust and fee lands, processing estates, and providing technical assistance to Tribes and Tribal Members on all aspects of real estate transactions.

Roads Goals/Services
• To enhance the quality of life in Indian communities.

• To facilitate preservation and enhancement of Tribal and cultural/traditional values.

• To optimize Bureau and Tribal human resources by ensuring Tribes are provided assistance in planning and maintaining an adequate network of Roads to support their Social and Economic Development through disseminating information on the Roads Program and funding; coordinating between Tribes, other agencies, and Area Office staff; and coordinating compliance with Tribal permitting program.

Surveying Goals/Services
• To provide boundary surveys where original monuments are lost, moved, or destroyed and must be re-established.

• To provide boundary surveys for land purchases, land exchanges, and trespasses.