On January 26, 2021, the Council asked the ISRP to review responses from the Coeur d’Alene Tribe for Project #2001-032-00, Coeur d'Alene Fisheries Enhancement-Hangman Creek, and Project #2001-033-00, Hangman Creek Fish & Wildlife Restoration. The projects restore natural stream processes to protect and enhance native redband trout populations in the Hangman Creek watershed. The responses address the conditions placed on the projects by the Council as part of the Resident Fish and Sturgeon Project Review in October 2020.
The ISRP finds that the revised proposals for both projects are significantly improved and meet the ISRP’s previous conditions. The proposals provide the content and detail for moving forward. However, the ISRP suggests some additions and modifications that would further clarify the proposals. These detailed suggestions are included in the ISRP’s full memo, but two broad suggestions are for the proponents to combine the projects and develop a synthesis report.
Specifically, the ISRP encourages the proponents to combine the two projects to better integrate their actions and improve the evaluation of project outcomes. A combined project also could streamline project development and make future reviews more efficient.
Additionally, given the long history and many accomplishments of these projects, the ISRP encourages the proponents to consider developing a synthesis of past restoration work and key findings, results, and lessons learned. Such a synthesis would create a context for future watershed restoration planning and provide valuable information for others pursuing projects with similar goals.
