Lake Roosevelt
Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area may implement a prescribed fire to 67 acres adjacent to the Gifford Campground and Boat Launch. Safe and favorable weather conditions for this activity may occur between April and the beginning of June. Goals for prescribed burns include promoting forest health and decreasing forest fuel loads adjacent to campgrounds, residences, and structures.
View the Online Public Guide »
The online guide includes several links to related studies and further information.
Click here for a direct download of the pdf.
Click here or the image below to view the guide online, which includes several links to related studies and information.
Download a pdf of the 2015 Guide here.
Tuesday, April 21
10:30 - 12:00 Plenary Session
Back to the Future: Reintroduction of Salmon and Steelhead above Chief Joseph and Grand Coulee Dams
Tom Karier, Northwest Power and Conservation Council - Tom Karier was first appointed to the Northwest Power and Conservation Council in 1998 and has served several terms as the Council Chair and Chair of the Power Committee. He has also been a board member for the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance and co-chair of both the Northwest Energy Efficiency Taskforce and the Northwest Wind Integration Forum.
Stephen Smith, Upper Columbia United Tribes - Steve Smith is a fishery consultant for UCUT, providing policy and technical advice on the Columbia River Treaty and salmon reintroduction above Chief Joseph and Grand Coulee dams. He is also a member of the Hatchery Science Review Group. Steve spent 28 years in the federal government, working for NOAA Fisheries on habitat, hatchery and harvest issues, and for the Bonneville Power Administration addressing hydro-system operations and fish passage issues.
Steve Pozzanghera, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife - Steve Pozzanghera is a wildlife biologist in his 23rd year with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. He is a senior executive leader for the Department and currently serves as the Eastern Regions’; Regional Director working out of Spokane.
John Sirois, Upper Columbia United Tribes
Dennis Scarnecchia, Independent Science Review Panel - Dennis Scarnecchia’s title is Professor of Fisheries at the University of Idaho. He is also vice-Chair of the Independent Scientific Review Panel for the Northwest Power and Conservation Council. Most of his research has involved large river, reservoir, and stream studies of salmon, trout, paddlefish and sturgeon.
Greg Ruggerone, Independent Science Review Panel - Dr Greg Ruggerone is a salmon biologist and member of the Columbia River Independent Scientific Advisory Board and Independent Scientific Review Panel. For the past 30 years, he has studied salmon ecology and management in freshwater and marine habitats in the Pacific Northwest, Alaska, and Asia.
12:00 - 1:15 Lunch & Keynote
SimSalmon: Vision Support Tools to Meet Ecologic and Habitat Needs
John Anderson, University of Idaho - John Anderson is an Associate Professor of Virtual Technology and Design at the University of Idaho; his research focuses on the development of decision support tools for social ecological systems.
1:15 - 2:45 Concurrent Sessions
Transboundary Ecosystem Management: Canadian Contributions and Pathways
Kindy Gosal, Columbia Basin Trust - Kindy Gosal (Golden BC, Canada) is the Director of Special Initiatives for the Columbia Basin Trust (CBT), a corporation that was created to assist the people most directly impacted from the construction of the Columbia River Treaty Dams in the Canadian Columbia Region. The mandate of the CBT is to assist the residents of the region to create a legacy of social, economic and environmental well-being. Kindy is a community practitioner who, over the last 20 years has focused on working at the grassroots level working with local governments and communities of interest. His work has primarily been that of facilitator and convener in helping communities identify tangible actions to address the complex issues they face. He is a Professional Forester by training and has worked internationally on a variety of forestry and socio-economic development projects in Africa and Asia. In recent years Kindy has been extremely active regionally and internationally in trans-boundary water policy and community engagement. Kindy's work with the CBT includes a focus on water and water issues locally, regionally and in the transboundary context. He is the CBT staff lead on Columbia River Treaty and Climate Change related initiatives and recently has expanded his role to include research development of major new programs and projects in the social and economic sectors.
Bill Green, Canadian Columbia River Inter-Tribal River Fisheries Commission - Bill Green is the Director of the Canadian Columbia River Inter-tribal Fisheries Commission. Bill’s background is in aquatic ecology and has worked in this field, principally with First Nations, for 35 years. Main areas of professional interest are First Nations use of fish and aquatic ecosystems, environmental values, environmental flow requirements and conservation biology. Personal interests include family (wife and four children) and being outdoors on the water (liquid and solid states) and in the mountains.
Douglas Adama, LGL Limited - Doug Adama is a wildlife ecologist with LGL Limited in Golden, BC. Their work in the on the Columbia River includes rare and endangered species conservation, ecosystem restoration, and wildlife and vegetation-monitoring program on the Arrow and Kinbasket Reservoirs.
Upper Columbia Remedial Investigation and Feasibility Study Status Report
Andy Dunau, Lake Roosevelt Forum
Laura Buelow, Environmental Protection Agency - Laura Buelow is a remedial project manager with the U.S. EPA, Office of Environmental Cleanup. She is part of the Hanford Project Office in Richland, Washington, and primarily works on the Upper Columbia River Remedial Investigation/Feasibility study.
Marc Stifelman, Environmental Protection Agency - Marc Stifelman is a graduate of Rutgers University and the University of Washington - School of Public Health. He is a toxicologist with the U.S. EPA in Seattle, WA where he leads the Human Health Risk Assessment for the Upper Columbia River Site. Marc has prepared human health risk assessments for the Coeur d'Alene Basin, Midnite Mine and other Superfund Sites in Washington and Idaho. Prior to joining EPA, he navigated oceanographic research vessels for NOAA in Antarctica, Alaska, and points in between.
Citizen Panel
Poster Session: Enjoying Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area
Dan Foster, Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area - Dan Foster is the Superintendent of Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area and Ice Age Floods National Geologic Trail. He has been with the National Park Service for 23 years as a resource manager and superintendent working to protect and preserve this Nation’s natural and cultural treasures, while providing opportunities for the public to enjoy them. Prior to that, he worked for the State of Utah as a geologist and wildlife biologist.
Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area Staff
3:00 - 4:30 Concurrent Sessions
Transboundary Ecosystem Management: Upper Columbia Contributions and Pathways
Brent Nichols, Spokane Tribe of Indians - Dr. Nichols is the Fisheries Program Manager with the Spokane Tribe of Indians. Currently the program is investigating (1) the ecological and evolutionary processes affecting abundance, distribution and habitat availability of riverine species that are impacted by hydropower system development and operation; (2) examining the limiting factors to primary productivity and the role zooplankton populations play in the food web of pelagic riverine ecosystems; and (3) recruitment failure, genetic diversity and autopolyploidism in White Sturgeon.
Andy Miller, Spokane Tribe of Indians - Andy Miller is a fisheries biologist and project lead for the Lake Roosevelt White Sturgeon Recovery project for the Spokane Tribe of Indians. Current research efforts include investigating the causes of recruitment failure, assessing adult abundance, and overseeing the Lake Roosevelt White Sturgeon Conservation Aquaculture Program.
Ryan Klett, Colville Confederated Tribe of Indians - Ryan is a habitat biologist with theColville Confederated Tribes Fish and Wildlife. He serves as Senior Biologist in the Nespelem Field Office for the Lake Roosevelt Habitat Improvement Project. Their work includes stream habitat inventory and assessment and the implementation of habitat improvement projects focused on the quality, abundance and diversity of habitat for adfluvial Redband Rainbow Trout.
Joe Maroney, Kalispel Tribe of Indians - Joe Maroney has worked for the Kalispel Tribe for 20 years as a Fish Biologist, Fisheries Program Manager and his current position as Director. He has a vast knowledge of Columbia River Basin resource management issues with regard to the Federal Columbia River Power System and FERC hydroelectric projects. Work focuses on native resident fish passage at mainstem projects and non-native fish suppression/eradication.
River Flow and Lake Level Forecasts, Grand Coulee Dam Updates
Lynne Brougher, Bureau of Reclamation - Lynne Brougher is the Public Affairs Officer for the Bureau of Reclamation at the Grand Coulee Dam Power Office. She oversees visitor services, including the Grand Coulee Dam Visitor Center, Laser Light Show and public tours; and, provides information to the media and public on a wide variety of issues and projects occurring at the dam.
Ian Turner, Bureau of Reclamation
Katherine Rowden, National Weather Service - Katherine Rowden is the Service Hydrologist for the National Weather Service's Forecast Office in Spokane, and is responsible for managing the flood warning and water resources program for the office's service area, which includes North Central & Eastern Washington and the Idaho panhandle. She also serves as the liaison between local and federal partners and the NWS' Northwest River Forecast Center in Portland, which provides short- and long-term forecasts for the entire Columbia River Basin.
A Public Guide to RI/FS Human Health Findings and Fish Advisory
Andy Dunau, Lake Roosevelt Forum
Liz Carr, Washington Department of Health - Liz Carr is the Fish Advisories Program Coordinator for the Washington State Department of Health, Office of Environmental Health, Safety and Toxicology. She received her B.S. in Marine Biology and M.S.in Environmental Studies from The Evergreen State College. With over fifteen years experience coordinating scientific research projects and environmental and public health programs, she is interested in the intersection of science, advocacy, policy, program development, and public education.
Alyce Ujihara, California Department of Health - Alyce Ujihara is a research scientist in the Exposure Assessment Section, within the Environmental Health Investigations Branch of the California Department of Public Health (CDPH). Currently, she is the CDPH lead for the Delta Mercury Exposure Reduction Program, a multi-agency effort to reduce human exposure to chemicals from fish consumption in California’s Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. Her current activities include the development of educational materials, training tools, and exposure assessment studies.
Laura Buelow, Environmental Protection Agency - Laura Buelow is a remedial project manager with the U.S. EPA, Office of Environmental Cleanup. She is part of the Hanford Project Office in Richland, Washington, and primarily works on the Upper Columbia River Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study.
Whitney Fraser, Environment International Whitney Fraser has worked for nine years with the Colville Confederated Tribes, providing scientific support on issues related to toxicology, risk assessment, natural resources, and contamination in the Upper Columbia River.
Whitney Fraser, Environment International - Whitney Fraser has worked for nine years with the Colville Confederated Tribes, providing scientific support on issues related to toxicology, risk assessment, natural resources, and contamination in the Upper Columbia River.
Wednesday, April 22
9:15 - 10:45 Plenary Session
Celebrating the National Park Service Centennial: Kicking off a Second Century of Stewardship
Andy Dunau, Lake Roosevelt Forum
Chip Jenkins, National Recreation Area Park Service Deputy Regional Director Pacific West Region - Palmer "Chip" Jenkins, Jr. is the Deputy Regional Director for Resource Stewardship and Planning for the National Park Service in the Pacific West Region. As Deputy Regional Director he is responsible for leading and managing park operations for 17 parks located in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho, as well as the administration of four major program functions: Cultural Resources Management, Natural Resources Management, Planning and Environmental Compliance. He also serves as the Regional Director's principal representative in the Pacific Northwest and the lead official for the Seattle office of the Pacific West Regional Office.
Dan Foster, National Park Service - Dan Foster is the Superintendent of the Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area and Ice Age Floods National Geologic Trail. He has been with the National Park Service for 23 years as a resource manager and superintendent working to protect and preserve this Nation’s natural and cultural treasures, while providing opportunities for the public to enjoy them. Prior to that, he worked for the State of Utah as a geologist and wildlife biologist.
Scott Hutsell, Lincoln County Commissioner - Scott is in his second term serving as District 2 Lincoln County Commissioner. He serves on the Lake Roosevelt Forum Board of Directors. He is a lifelong resident of Lincoln County and property owner overlooking Porcupine Bay.
Margie Hall, Lincoln County Economic Development Council - Margie Hall is the executive director for the Lincoln County Economic Development Council. The Council contracts with Lincoln County to be their Visitor & Convention Bureau. As the bureau, they promote the NPS amenities accessible from Lincoln County. Those amenities include the Seven Bays marina and houseboat vacations; Keller Ferry marina and campground; seven additional boat launches; six additional drive-in campgrounds; nine boat-in campgrounds and the Fort Spokane Visitor Center.
Art Grobben, Lazy Day Retreats - Art Grobben is a hotelier in Northport, WA on the Upper Columbia River. He and his wife Nina are involved with the local Chamber of Commerce as well as various other community organizations. They have a variety of lodging available on the river as well as in the town of Northport, working hand in hand with local fishing guides and local businesses to seek out a living in GOD’S country.
Bob Valen, Grand Coulee Dam Area Chamber of Commerce - Bob Valen, a retiree, is the current Vice President of the Grand Coulee Dam Area Chamber of Commerce. He also serves as Commissioner-Chair for Coulee Area Park & Recreation District and is the current Grand Coulee Dam Area Rotary Club President. He is a member of the board for Discovery Your Northwest, a not-for-profit serving visitors who use Federal Lands in five Northwest States with educational items, experiences, use passes, etc.
Warren Seyler, Spokane Tribe of Indians - Mr. Seyler currently manages the STOI/BPA Coordination office for the Spokane Tribe of Indians, tracking and evaluating various Spokane and Columbia River issues for the Department of Natural Resources. Previously Mr. Seyler served 15 years as a Spokane Tribal Business Council member, serving two years as Chairman. Mr. Seyler also manages the DNR Internship Program assisting college students to get hands on experiences alongside program professionals within the DNR and also experiencing local and regional river and natural resource issues.
Fran Bolt, Mayor of Marcus - Fran Bolt, a 33 year resident of the town of Marcus, WA, serving her community as Clerk-Treasurer, Parks & Recreation chairman, Planning Commission, Town Council and is now serving her 14th year as Mayor. She has also been active in economic development, recreational and historic tourism throughout the Stevens County area, especially those involving the Lake Roosevelt area.
11:00 - 12:30 Concurrent Sessions
Interpreting Lake Roosevelt's Natural Resources
Terry Lawhead, WA Department of Commerce - Terry Lawhead is an economic development manager with the Washington State Department of Commerce Business Services Division, living in Spokane. He currently provides business retention/expansion technical assistance and entrepreneurial educational programs to rural businesses and leadership state wide.
Jack Nisbet, Historian - Jack Nisbet is the author of several books that track the human and natural history of the Columbia drainage during the period of European contact. He attempts to tell the river’s story through written and oral sources, early artwork and maps, and by looking at the landscape itself.
Jon Edwards, National Park Service
Paul Hennon, City of Tualatin - Paul Hennon is the Community Services Director for the City of Tualatin, Oregon, where he has served in several positions since 1987.His previous professional experience includes positions with the City of Ogden, Utah, and San Diego State University. In his current position, Paul partners and collaborates with public, nonprofit, and private organizations to encourage awareness and foster an appreciation of Tualatin’s unique natural and cultural history.
Margie Hall, Lincoln County Economic Development Council - Margie Hall is the executive director for the Lincoln County Economic Development Council. The Council contracts with Lincoln County to be their Visitor & Convention Bureau. As the bureau, they promote the NPS amenities accessible from Lincoln County. Those amenities include the Seven Bays marina and houseboat vacations; Keller Ferry marina and campground; seven additional boat launches; six additional drive-in campgrounds; nine boat-in campgrounds and the Fort Spokane Visitor Center.
Bob Valen, Grand Coulee Dam Area Chamber of Commerce - Bob Valen, a retiree, is the current Vice President of the Grand Coulee Dam Area Chamber of Commerce. He also serves as Commissioner-Chair for Coulee Area Park & Recreation District and is the current Grand Coulee Dam Area Rotary Club President. He is a member of the board for Discovery Your Northwest, a Not-for-profit serving visitors who use Federal Lands in five Northwest States with educational items, experiences, use passes, etc.
Aquatic Invasive Species: Building Transboundary Defenses
Jim Ruff, Northwest Power and Conservation Council - Jim Ruff is Manager, Mainstem Passage and River Operations for the Northwest Power and Conservation Council. Jim is responsible for monitoring implementation of measures in the Council's Mainstem Amendments to the Fish & Wildlife Program, as well as analyzing potential impacts and costs of major power system operations and proposed actions on fish.
Lisa DeBruyckere, Creative Resource Strategies - Lisa DeBruyckere is President of Creative Resource Strategies, a consulting company that specializes in assisting natural resource organizations with their communication and outreach needs. Lisa is currently on contract with the Pacific Northwest Economic Region and Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission to develop a regional framework for preventing an introduction of dreissenids to the Pacific Northwest.
Matthias Herborg, BC Ministry of the Environment - Matthias was born in Bavaria, Germany and moved to the UK to get a degree in Marine Biology / Biochemistry. There he also did his PHD on the 'Ecology of the invasive Chinese mitten crab in Europe' at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne, UK. He then moved on and completed two postdocs on predicting the distribution and risk of aquatic invasive species in Canada, working at the University of Windsor and the Pacific Biological Station (DFO). Since 2008, he has worked in the Conservation Science Section at the BC Ministry of Environment as BC's Aquatic Invasive Species Specialist.
Allen Pleus, WA Department of Fish and Wildlife - Allen Pleus is the Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Coordinator for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) and has been in this position since 2006. He is responsible for the statewide coordination of marine and freshwater invasive animal species management. Mr. Pleus received a Master’s of Environmental Studies degree from The Evergreen State College in 1995.
Joe Maroney, Kalispel Tribe of Indians - Joe Maroney has worked for the Kalispel Tribe for 20 years as a Fish Biologist, Fisheries Program Manager and his current position as Director. He has a vast knowledge of Columbia River Basin resource management issues with regard to the Federal Columbia River Power System and FERC hydroelectric projects. Work focuses on native resident fish passage at mainstem projects and non-native fish suppression/eradication.
Meghan Lyons, Lake Roosevelt National Recreation - Area Meghan Lyons is a biologist with Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area. She is in charge of developing an aquatic invasive species prevention program for Lake Roosevelt. Her work includes education and outreach, monitoring and boat inspections and decontaminations.
Jenifer Parsons, WA Department of Ecology - Jenifer Parsons is an aquatic plant specialist with the Washington Department of Ecology. She monitors invasive aquatic weeds as well as native species in public access lakes and rivers across the state. In addition, she leads research projects on aquatic weed control methods when circumstances allow.
WA State Proposals to Reduce Toxic Pollution and Update Surface Water Quality Standards
Rick Eichstaedt, Center for Justice - Rick Eichstaedt is an adjunct faculty of law at Gonzaga University School of Law and serves as the Executive Director of the Center for Justice, a not-for-profit legal advocacy organization dedicated to issues of social and environmental justice and houses the Spokane Riverkeeper program. Rick’s current work includes representing a variety of organizations and individuals in environmental and land use litigation.
Kelly Susewind, WA Department of Commerce - Kelly Susewind joined the Department of Ecology 24 years ago after working as a consulting engineer for several years. He entered the agency as a staff engineer and has progressively taken on increasing levels of responsibility. Most recently, he managed the agencies Water Quality Program before being promoted to his current position as Special Assistant to Director Maia Bellon. He earned a degree in Geological Engineering from Washington State University and holds licenses in civil engineering, geology and hydrogeology.
Darin Rice, WA Department of Ecology - Darin is a senior policy analyst helping lead the Department of Ecology's efforts to reduce toxic threats. Darin most recently helped craft the Governor’s toxics reduction bill and budget package. He received his Bachelor’s degree in political science and environmental studies from Whitman College and his Master’s in environmental science from WSU. Darin is a husband, father, gardener, runner, and writer, recently completing a novel and a screenplay.
12:30 - 1:45 Lunch & Program
October Transboundary Conference Report
Jennifer Anders, Council Member, Northwest Power and Conservation Council - Jennifer Anders is a Montana Member of the Northwest Power and Conservation Council. She serves on the Council’s fish and wildlife committee, which oversees all Bonneville-funded fish and wildlife projects in the Columbia River Basin. Ms. Anders helped plan the 2014 Transboundary Conference in Spokane, and continues to work with the Columbia Basin Trust on future endeavors.
Neil Muth, President, Columbia Basin Trust - Neil is the President and CEO of Columbia Basin Trust (“CBT”). CBT is a statutory corporation whose mission is to support efforts by the people of the Columbia Basin region of British Columbia to create a legacy of social, economic and environmental well-being. CBT generates income from an investment portfolio, and delivers a range of benefits to residents and communities within the Columbia Basin through various initiatives and granting programs. Prior to joining CBT in September 2005, Neil served as Vice President, Private Placements for British Columbia Investment Management Corporation (“bcIMC”), where he was responsible for bcIMC’s private equity and debt investment activity. bcIMC is an investment management firm responsible for investing funds of various public sector organizations. Neil also served as Vice President, Finance and Operations for bcIMC. Prior to joining bcIMC in 2000, Neil operated his own consulting company. He has also served in various positions with the provincial Ministry of Finance and the New Zealand Treasury. Neil obtained a Bachelor of Arts (Economics) degree from the University of Victoria in 1982, and a Master of Arts (Economics) degree from the University of British Columbia in 1986.
Honoring Dr. Al Scholz, Eastern Washington University
1:45 - 2:15 Plenary Session
A Journey Up the Columbia River for People and Salmon
Adam Wicks-Arshack, Voyages of Discovery
2:30 - 4:00 Concurrent Sessions
Washington State Innovations in Water Management
Derek Sandison, WA Department of Ecology - Derek has 39 years of combined public and private sector professional experience, including 14 years as Senior Vice President of a northwest consulting firm and 12 years in local government. Now, he oversees water supply development efforts within Washington’s portion of the Columbia River Basin. Prior to this position he served five years as Ecology’s Central Regional Director. Derek has managed a number of large water projects, including the Lake Roosevelt Incremental Storage Releases Project, the Odessa Groundwater Replacement Project and the Yakima Integrated Water Resource Management Plan.
Keith Stoffel, WA Department of Ecology - Keith Stoffel has been Manager of the Water Resources Program in Ecology’s Eastern Regional Office for more than 11 years. He leads a staff of 20 professionals who actively manage the allocation of surface and groundwater resources in eastern Washington, from Canada to Oregon and Idaho to the Columbia River. Keith is a licensed hydrogeologist and geologist.
Wes McCart, Stevens County Commissioner - Wes McCart is a Stevens County Commissioner and local farmer. He comes to us with over two decades of experience with water issues at the local, state, national and international level. In addition, he serves as a member of Colville Watershed group and as a Water Conservancy Board Commissioner. Wes is also a strong supporter of property rights and very involved in land use issues.
Building Ice Age Floods National Geologic Trail
Denise Bausch, National Park Service - Denise Bausch is the Chief of Interpretation and Education for Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area and the Ice Age Floods National Geologic Trail. In addition to overseeing interpretive and educational operations at Lake Roosevelt, she is also working with contractors to complete the Ice Age Floods National Geologic Trail Long-Range Interpretive Plan and developing and maintaining websites and social media sites for both units.
Jorie Clark, U.S.Fish and Wildlife Service - Jorie is an archaeologist in Region 1 of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. She is the FWS representative for the Interagency Technical Committee (IAFNGT) and is currently the Chair of the committee. Outside of the FWS, she is a courtesy Assistant Professor at Oregon State University where her research involves glacial geology, geochronology and paleoclimate.
Tim Alling, Coulee Corridor Consortium - Graduated Grand Coulee High School 1967, 2 years College, Big Bend Community (Flight program, attaining Commercial Pilots License with Flight Instructors certification), Vietnam Veteran (Ballistic Meteorologist- did the weather for Heavy Artillery) 23.5 years as a federal employee, as a Power House Operator. Became involved with the Coulee Corridor Scenic Byway in 1999. Currently Chairman of the “Coulee Corridor Consortium,” the grass roots organization that guides the “Coulee Corridor National Scenic Byway”.
Gary Ford, Ice Age Floods Institute President - Gary Ford is the President of the Ice Age Floods Institute, as well as the President of the Cheney-Spokane Chapter of the IAFI. He has been a member of the Institute since 2001. He has given numerous talks and led field trips as well as participated in many community events about the floods. He was part of a team that worked for several years encouraging congress to pass legislation authorizing the Ice Age Floods National Geologic Trail.
Ryan Karlson, WA State Parks
Dave Norman, WA State Geologist - Dave Norman is the State Geologist of Washington and Manages the Department of Natural Resources Washington Geological Survey. Dave has directed and participated in a broad range geological mapping, earthquake, tsunami, landslide, and volcano hazard assessments, mineral and energy resource evaluations, and regulatory programs.
Paul Hennon, City of Tualatin - Paul Hennon is the Community Services Director for the City of Tualatin, Oregon, where he has served in several positions since 1987. His previous professional experience includes positions with the City of Ogden, Utah, and San Diego State University. In his current position, Paul partners and collaborates with public, nonprofit, and private organizations to encourage awareness and foster an appreciation of Tualatin’s unique natural and cultural history.
Current and Future Directions of Lake Roosevelt Fisheries
Mitch Combs, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife - Mitch is a fish hatchery manager on Lake Roosevelt with over 33 years’ experience in both production and conservation aquaculture. Along with his duties within the Spokane Complex, he is also a member of the Upper Columbia White Sturgeon Recovery Initiatives Technical Working Group and the Lake Roosevelt Forum.
Elliot Kittel, Spokane Tribe of Indians - Elliott Kittel is a Fisheries Biologist with the Spokane Tribe of Indians, Lake Roosevelt Fisheries Evaluation Program. His current projects include monitoring of the Lake Roosevelt fishery, oversight of the angler creel survey, and consolidation and organization of the LRFEP’s archived biological data.
Jason McLellan, Colville Confederated Tribes - Jason McLellan is a fish biologist with the Colville Confederated Tribes Fish and Wildlife Department. He is the Resident Fish Division Habitat Sub-division Lead. Projects within the Habitat Sub-division include White Sturgeon research and monitoring in the mid- and upper Columbia River, Lake Roosevelt Burbot monitoring and evaluation, and stream habitat restoration to increase production of wild Rainbow Trout.
Jessica Walston, Eastern Washington - University Jessica Walston earned two bachelor’s degrees in Biology and Environmental Science at Eastern Washington University in 2013. She is currently working on her master’s degree in fisheries biology at Eastern Washington University under Dr. Scholz. Her project is focusing on understanding Redband Rainbow Trout seasonal movement patterns using acoustic telemetry in Lake Roosevelt, Washington.
Lake Roosevelt has over 630 miles of shoreline.
Management of the lake and its shoreline is a cooperative effort that includes the Bureau of Reclamation, the National Park Service, the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Indian Reservation, the Spokane Tribe of Indians, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs (the five partners).
Because of U.S. government and tribal ownership of these lands, Lake Roosevelt offers mile after mile of shoreline that the public can easily access for recreational use. The beauty of the area and its openness to the public are driving forces in it being a destination spot for up to 1.5 million visitors a year.
In 1990, the five partners signed a cooperative management agreement that guides and specifies areas of responsibility and management.
The area managed by the partners is referred to as the Lake Roosevelt Management Area (LRMA). This area encompasses the waters and lands up to a lake elevation of 1,290 feet above sea level. It also refers to lands surrounding the lake that are above elevation 1290, are owned by the U.S. government, and are part of the Columbia Basin Project.
Specific areas of responsibility and jurisdiction can be summarized as follows:
The Bureau of Reclamation: The Bureau built and operates the Columbia Basin Project, which includes Grand Coulee Dam. Their responsibilities include operational control of the flow and utilization of water at the Grand Coulee Dam and Project facilities operated by Reclamation.
The National Park Service: The Park Service manages Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area. Responsibilities include providing recreation and protecting cultural and natural features in the recreation area. The recreation area includes the portion of Lake Roosevelt and adjacent federally-owned shoreline not within the Colville and Spokane Indian Reservations. Portions of the shoreline and water surface managed by the Park Service include about 312 miles of shoreline, 47,438 acres of the 81,389-acre water surface, and 12,936 acres of land. In 2000, the Park Service adopted a new General Management Plan for the national recreation area. This plan will guide management and development activities the next 15 to 20 years. This includes guidelines for such things as camping, concessionaires, cultural resource preservation, and natural resource protection.
The Spokane Tribe of Indians and the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation: Each tribe has regulatory authority within their reservation, shoreline, and waters (which extend from their shoreline to the middle of the river channel/lake). Within the lands and waters they manage, each tribe sets and enforces a broad range of regulations. Examples include fish and wildlife preservation and protection, recreation, economic development, and cultural, historical and archaeological resources.
The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA): BIA provides management and resource assistance to the tribes.
Two additional federal agencies, the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) and the Army Corps of Engineers (COE), work regularly with one or more of the five partners on management activities. BPA schedules power generation at Grand Coulee within the constraints of meeting the Columbia Basin Project’s multiple uses. Additionally, BPA funding to the tribes and others is used to mitigate fish and wildlife losses caused by the construction of the Columbia River Federal Hydropower System. The Army Corps of Engineers is responsible for coordinating lake levels to meet flood control needs.
And finally, the five partners also work closely with state and county agencies to meet fishery, wildlife, emergency response, cultural resource and other needs.
With the closing of Grand Coulee Dam’s gates in 1942, Franklin D. Roosevelt Lake (or Lake Roosevelt for short) was created.
The waters of the Columbia River behind Grand Coulee rose up to 400 feet, creating over 600 miles of shoreline. The length of the lake is over 150 miles, extending from Grand Coulee dam to near the Canadian border. The size of Lake Roosevelt, however, only begins to tell the story of a water and land area with a rich cultural, geologic and ecological history dating back thousands of years.
In this section you’ll learn about the lake’s current operations, managing partners, and communities as well as the rich environmental and cultural history unique to the area.