Idaho Soil
Conservation Commission

Clearwater Focus Program

Northwest Power and Conservation Council (Council)

The Northwest Power and Conservation Council was created by the Pacific Northwest Electric Power Planning and Conservation Act (1980) to assure the Pacific Northwest of an adequate, efficient, economical, and reliable power supply and to protect, mitigate, and enhance the fish and wildlife of the Columbia River. The Governors of Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington each appoint two members to the Council.

U.S. Department of Energy - Bonneville Power Administration (BPA)

Bonneville provides funding for the Council’s Columbia Basin Fish and Wildlife Program from revenues generated by energy and transmission sales related to the federal Columbia River Power Supply System. BPA staff review project proposals submitted to the Council, and provide technical and management contracting functions.

Columbia Basin Fish and Wildlife Authority (CBFWA)

CBFWA is comprised of representative from the four State fish and wildlife agencies, NOAA Fisheries, USFWS, and the 13 Columbia Basin Indian tribes. CBFWA was created by the Power Act to represent the regional managers as advisors to the Council.

One of CBFWA’s functions is to review project proposals submitted to the Council.

Independent Science Review Panel (ISRP)

The ISRP was created by amendment (1996) to the Power Act to provide independent scientific peer review of project proposals submitted through the Council’s program. The Council has also requested the ISRP to review subbasin plans.

Clearwater Focus Program

The Focus Program was created in 1997 to implement the Council’s Columbia Basin Fish and Wildlife Program in the Clearwater River subbasin by coordinating restoration efforts and available funding resources. The Focus Program is co-coordinated by the State of Idaho and the Nez Perce Tribe, through the Idaho Soil Conservation Commission and the Watershed Division of Tribal Fisheries. The Focus Program has also coordinated work to implement the Council’s subbasin planning and provincial review processes.

Clearwater Policy Advisory Committee (PAC)

In 1999, the Focus Program convened the PAC to provide policy guidance. Members include the subbasin-level managers for each agency or local government represented.

George Enneking, Idaho County, Chairman
Cal Groen, IDFG, Vice Chairman
Bill Miller, US Fish & Wildlife Service
Kerby Cole, IDEQ
Allen Slickpoo, Jr., Nez Perce Tribe
Terry Cundy, Potlatch
Bob McKnight, Idaho Dept of Lands
Kyle Hawley, Idaho Association of Soil Conservation Districts
Larry Dawson, Clearwater NF
Dale Brege, NOAA Fisheries
Bruce Bernhardt, Nez Perce NF
  (In cooperation with the Idaho Governor’s Office of Species Conservation)

Watershed Restoration Projects

The following watersheds have projects funded by BPA through the Council’s program, and are implemented by local Soil and Water Conservation Districts or the Nez Perce Tribe. These projects also include participation funding from other programs and private landowners.

Big Canyon Creek, Little Canyon Creek, Lolo Creek, Mill Creek, McComas Meadows, Lochsa River, Red River, Newsome Creek, Lapwai Creek, and the Potlatch River