Interns
Four interns were selected and began work in June to support EDT data collection during the summer. Two are from Eastern Washington University, one from Whitworth University, and one from Eckerd College. The Rose Foundation provided the Spokane River Forum funding for this effort.
The Spokane Tribe of Indians received notification of funding for BIA interns to support EDT data
collection during the summer of 2025.
EDT Habitat Surveys and Sampling
To support EDT modeling, teams are conducting habitat surveys, collecting eDNA sampling and placing temperature loggers in the watershed. To date 13 surveys have been conducted, eDNA sampling virtual training has been completed, and 6 temperature loggers placed.
Based on technical team, Cramer Fisheries and field-testing input, spring activities included:
- Completing data collection protocols and input forms
- Purchase of supplies and equipment
- Validating data storage
Concurrently, extensive landowner outreach to secure permission to conduct surveys on private
property has occurred. This includes mailing letters based on information provided by technical team members, door knocking, and other follow-up activities. Landowner outreach will continue throughout the summer.
Benthic sampling has been started by a master’s student at EWU. 3 sites have been completed.
Citizens Committee
Per statute, each lead entity forms a Citizens Committee consisting of elected officials, agencies,
stakeholders and others grounded in our community’s social, cultural, and economic values. To assure community support, this committee will review technical committee rankings of habitat projects to be submitted for Salmon Recovery Funding Board (SRFB) funding. The Citizens committee then determines the final rankings and submits requests to the SRFB.
Initiating governments (Spokane County, Stevens County, Lincoln County, City of Spokane, the Spokane Tribe of Indians and the Coeur d’Alene Tribe) have been approached to select representatives to the Citizens Committee. Spokane County will make their selection after a July 9th Spokane Salmon Restoration Collaborative presentation to county commissioners. Initiating government representatives are then expected to be convened to form the Citizens Committee.
Outreach
The Spokane Salmon Restoration Collaborative logo was created.
The web site, spokanesalmon.org, continues to be developed. The Spokane Tribe of Indians continue to work on two videos (“Salmon & People on the Spokane River” and “That Which is Hoped For”) before public launching of the site.
A presentation about the Spokane Salmon Restoration Collaborative and salmon reintroduction was
made to over 270 people attending the Expo 50 H20 Symposium hosted by the Spokane River Forum. A presentation to the Friends of the Little Spokane River also occurred.
Verbal and email communication is on-going with stakeholders, the technical team and interested
entities.
Technical Committee
The technical committee did not meet this quarter. This allowed staff time to integrate input from the
March meeting and initiate habitat surveys. The committee will reconvene in September to review EDT data collection progress and next steps.