Procedures 



Workins with Private Landowners: the Key to Successful Restoration 



The emphasis of the Blackfoot River restoration initiative is to restore degraded 

 tributaries by improving riparian health and fish habitat. Typically, each tributary project 

 involves multiple landowners, multiple professional disciplines, more than one funding 

 source, plus the involvement of a watershed group. Restoration has focused on 

 addressing obvious impacts to fish populations such as migration barriers, stream de- 

 watering, fish losses to irrigation canals, and degraded riparian areas. All projects are 

 cooperative efforts between private landovmers and the restoration team, and occur 

 throughout the drainage, but emphasize tributaries from the North Fork down river. All 

 projects are voluntary and incorporate landowner needs (such as irrigation and grazing 

 objectives). Projects are administered at the local level by a core group of agency 

 resource specialists in cooperation with local watershed groups, including both the Big 

 Blackfoot Chapter of Trout Unlimited and the Blackfoot Challenge, or local government 

 groups such as the North Powell Conservation District. Tax incentives of the non-profit 

 501(c) three status watershed groups provide a mechanism for generating private funds. 



State (FWP) and Federal (USFWS) biologists coordinate private land restoration 

 efforts in close coordination with other agency staff, landowners and watershed groups. 

 A lead biologist generally enlists help from interagency personnel including range 

 conservationists, hydrologists, engineers, and water right specialists as necessary. In turn, 

 the watershed groups help prioritize projects, help with fundraising, administer budgets, 

 solicit bids, assist with landowner contacts, resolve conflicts and help address other social 

 issues. 



Project fiinding is arranged by project personnel and comes from many sources 

 including landowner contributions, private donations, foundation grants, and state and 

 federal agency programs. Project biologists and/or watershed groups undertake grant 

 writing and fund-raising. The lead biologist usually writes environmental assessments 

 and obtains project permits on behalf of the cooperating landowner. 



Project bids (consulting and construction) conform to State and Federal procurement 

 policies. These policies included the development of Blackfoot watershed qualified 

 vendors lists (QVL) derived through a competitive process. A minimal project cost 

 triggers use of the QVL. The watershed groups solicit bids from the QVL for both 

 consulting and contractor services. Bid-contracts are signed between the watershed group 

 and the selected vendor upon bid acceptance. 



Depending on the specific project, landowners are responsible for much of the cost, 

 construction and maintenance of projects. Addressing the source of stream degradation 

 usually requires developing riparian/upland management options sensitive to the 

 requirements of fish and other riparian-dependent species. Written agreements (10-30 

 year period) with landowners to maintain projects are arranged with cooperators on each 

 project. These agreements vary by funding source and may include agencies, the North 

 Powell Conservation District and/or the Fish and Habitat Committee of the Big Blackfoot 

 Chapter of Trout Unlimited. 



Landowner awareness of the habitat requirements of fish and wildlife, and their full 

 participation in projects are considered crucial to the long-term success of the restoration 



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