Transboundary Flathead Technical Committee Meeting

BC- MT MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING Transboundary Flathead Technical Committee Meeting April 30 th May 1 st, 2015 Cranbrook, British Columbia Provincial Government Offices, 1902 Theatre Road Implementing the BC- MT MOU: April 30th, 2015: Fisheries/Aquatics The following report reflects proceedings from a meeting of the Technical Committee for the BC- MT Memorandum of Understanding for the Transboundary Flathead. The meeting was convened by the Province of B.C., the State of Montana, and the Great Northern Landscape Conservation Cooperative (GNLCC). Participants discussed activities to date under the MOU, reviewed existing science and management for transboundary fish and wildlife and discussed opportuntities and actions moving forward, for overall implementation of the BC- MT MOU. Attendees: P. Rasmussen, C. Muhlfeld, R. Klafki, J. Krebs, E. Sexton, R. Hauer, P. VanEimeren, A. Oestrich, R. Davies, S. LeBrecque, M. Deleray, C. Downes, H.Lamson, C.Miske, A. Steed, J. Williams, N. Newhouse, M. Heller

Table of Contents Implementing the BC- MT MOU: April 30th, 2015: Fisheries/Aquatics... 1 Background... 3 Overview of MOU and Work to Date; E. Sexton... 3 Figure 1. The Transboundary Flathead River... 4 Jurisdictional Synopsis; Management Priorities for the TB Flathead by Agency or Entity... 4 Vulnerability assessment for Bull trout and Westslope cutthroat: Implications for Adaptive Management ; C. Muhlfeld and R. Hauer... 6 NetMap Watershed Assessment for the Tranbsoundary Flathead: Analysis of road surface erosion and other watershed attributes; M. Heller and G. Watson... 6 Transboundary Flathead; Fisheries conservation strategies and shared opportunities; A. Steed... 7 Understanding Westslope Cutthroat Trout Hybridization Risks in Southeast B.C.; H. Lamson... 7 Glacier National Park Native Fish Management and Conservation Actions in the TB Flathead River System; C. Downs... 8 Aquatic Invasive Species; Cross- border strategy for monitoring, prevention and rapid response; C. Miske... 9 Discussion: Opportunities and Next Steps... 9 Appendix A. Meeting Agenda... 10 Appendix B. BC/MT Transboundary Flathead MOU... 12 Meeting Objectives / Desired Outcomes 1. PAST Review past efforts under the MOU a. Mandates, sideboards provided by the MOU b. September, 2012 MOU Technical Team meeting c. Aquatic Adaptation Framework d. May, 2014 MOU Executive Committee meeting and out- comes 2. PRESENT Focus on transboundary collaborations in science and management a. Review of existing transboundary science and management partnerships, including key fish, wildlife, and ecosystem initiatives in the Transboundary Flathead b. Discuss jurisdictional barriers and opportunities related to transboundary collaborations c. Discuss interface with regional initiatives (Forest Plan Revision, CMP, GNLCC, etc.) 3. FUTURE Next Steps a. Opportunities for science and management applications b. Future projects planned and/or possible with emphasis on collaborative efforts c. Discuss next steps for this technical working group, including setting next meeting 2 Implementing the BC- MT MOU; April 30 th, 2015: Fisheries/Aquatics

Background The Flathead River, which originates in British Columbia and flows south into Montana, is considered one of North America s wildest rivers. Its water quality is pristine, it harbors abundant and diverse aquatic life, and it sustains the full complement of mid- to large carnivores that have thrived there since the 1800s. As such, in February 2010, the governments of British Columbia and Montana signed a Memorandum of Understanding and Cooperation on Environmental Protection, Climate Action and Energy in recognition of the high value of the natural resources in the Transboundary Flathead River Basin (US North Fork). Recognizing that the Flathead River Basin includes Waterton- Glacier International Peace Park, a UNESCO- designated World Heritage Site and Biosphere Reserve, this unique area merits special protection from risks posed by gas, oil, and mineral development. The MOU outlines a framework for the signatories to work together with Federal, State and Provincial, Tribal and First Nation partners in the United States and Canada on: 1) environmental protection, 2) climate action and 3) renewable and low carbon energy. In 2011, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar appointed, and the government of British Columbia embraced, the Great Northern Landscape Conservation Cooperative (GNLCC), as a vehicle to implement the partnership to accomplish the goals set out in the MOU, while avoiding overlap and duplication of effort. Overview of MOU and Work to Date; E. Sexton Erin Sexton provided background on the history of the Transboundary Flathead MOU, from its signing in 2010, to the identiifcation of the GNLCC in 2011 to assist with convening and implementation, to the creation of the Flathead Executive Committee. Erin described the transboundary Flathead (Figure 1) as a place encompassing: a strategic linkage area between BC and MT, US and Canada; multiple species of wide- ranging transboundary carnivores; and a critical spawning area for transboundary bull trout and genetic stronghold for Westslope cutthroat trout. The MOU provides a framework for collaboration on; 1) Environmental protection, 2) Climate action, and 3) Renewable energy. In 2012, the Province of B.C., State of Montana, and the GNLCC convened and executive- level committee among US Department of Interior, US Department of Agriculture, Canadian federal government, Tribes, First Nations and the Province of B.C. The Executive Committee out- lined a commitment to address portions of the MOU dealing with Land, Water, Fish, Wildlife, Invasive Species and Climate Change. In 2011-2012, both the Flathead Executive and Technical Committees were convened to develop a Five- Year Work Plan (Appendix B) with provisions for: 3 Implementing the BC- MT MOU; April 30 th, 2015: Fisheries/Aquatics

st * DRAFT October 1, 2015 Cooperating on Fish and Willdife Management Facilitation lf strategies for climate change adaptation Sharing information pro- actively Figure 1. The Transboundary Flathead River Jurisdictional Synopsis; Management Priorities for the TB Flathead by Agency or Entity J. Krebs Province of B.C. B.C. recoginizes that there are several transboundary initiatives across the B.C.- MT border, and limited capacity to engage in all of them. Implementtiaon of the MOU is a priority for B.C. 1. Up- date the original MOU, refresh the scope and add the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes (CSKT) and Ktunaxa Nation as signators (witnesses under the original signing). 2. Natural Resource Priorities: a. Westslope cutthroat trout hybridization with rainbow trout from Montana source b. Bull trout c. Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) 3. Ful- fill NCC- BC MOU agreement 4. On Periphery/Adjacent to Flathead a. Cumulative effects in Elk Valley b. Climate change Action Plan for Kootenay Boundary Region c. Data gaps for Burbot and other fish species in Koocanusa Reservoir 5. Enhanced B.C. over- sight and management in their jurisdiction increase data collection in BC Flathead 4 Implementing the BC- MT MOU; April 30th, 2015: Fisheries/Aquatics

J. Williams and M. Deleray State of Montana, Fish Wildlife and Parks 1. MT catching up on MOU implementation recently engaged 2. Support Province of B.C. and counterpart agencies - have B.C. biologists implementing work in B.C. Flathead a. Funding capacity b. Manpower 3. Habitat restoration/protection through conservation easements 4. Collaboration is key: permitting and data exchange across the boundary should continue S. LaBrecque, R. Davies and P. VanEimeren U.S. Forest Service 1. Flathead National Forest Plan Revision a. Additional recommended Wilderness 108,000 additional acres (Tuchuck and Jewell Basin) b. Inland Native Fish Strategy (IN- FISH)- carried forward into Forest Plan enhanced river corridor riparian protection, 300 foot buffer in fish- bearing streams c. Wild and Scenic River designation recommended for key BT spawning streams d. Conservation easement management e. Land acquisition f. Grizzly Bear Conservation Strategy de- listing - Amendment 19 for grizzly bear management carried forward in plan manages road density for bear habitat security 2. Research Branch a. edna for BT WSCT and tailed Frog b. AIS c. NetMap Watershed Assessment - restoration prioritization tool d. Climate shield temperature data C. Downes National Park Service Glacier National Park 1. Strengthen partnership across the boundary 2. Oil train traffic BNSF 3. North Fork Flathead residential development 4. Habitat C. Miske State of Montana Flathead Basin Commission 1. Oil train traffic limiting risk 2. AIS Flathead Basin is the priority area E. Sexton University of Montana 1. Implementing the language of the BC- MT MOU with respect to fish and wildlife management and climate change impacts 2. Transboundary Forestry Exchange corss- boundary participating in voluntary BMP audits N. Newhousse Nature Conservancy Canada 1. Work with B.C. for retirement of Flathead mineral rights funding 2. Private land conservation easement purchases 5 Implementing the BC- MT MOU; April 30 th, 2015: Fisheries/Aquatics

3. Cumulative effects threats forest companies not under Forest Stewardship Certification 4. Identification of threats and values Vulnerability assessment for Bull trout and Westslope cutthroat: Implications for Adaptive Management; C. Muhlfeld and R. Hauer Both species high priority on both sides of the boundary 9 out of 12 lakes in GNP invaded by Lake trout Experimental suppression of Lake trout in Quartz Lake BT spawning increasing Hybridization threatening WSCT exacerbated by climate warming Based on daily temperature model B.C. Flathead is the habitat stronghold under climate impacts Areas of groundwater up- welling are biodiveristy hotspots WSCT telemetry (H. Tepper) WSCT keying into 11-12 degree temperature for spawning primarily spawining in the mainstem Figure 2. BC- MT MOU Aquatic Adaptation Framework NetMap Watershed Assessment for the Tranbsoundary Flathead: Analysis of road surface erosion and other watershed attributes; M. Heller and G. Watson NetMap is an open- source decision tool GNLCC funded NetMap surface for TB FH in support of the Aquatic Adaptation Strategy and MOU implementation The NetMap Wateshed assessment addresses steps 2-4 in the Aquatic Adaptation Strategy (see Figure 2.) Some data gaps still exist, eg; a fire severity layer to evaulate wildfire risk and associated post- fire erosion Includes a GRAIP- Lite Package from the USFS Intended for managers to use as a tool, to make more informed decisions, efficiently 6 Implementing the BC- MT MOU; April 30 th, 2015: Fisheries/Aquatics

Transboundary Flathead; Fisheries conservation strategies and shared opportunities; A. Steed MT FWP is responsible for monitoring and permitting for WSCT and BT Transboundary stressors are timber harvest and invasive species Index streams in the TB Flathead are Big, Coal, Whale and Trail Creeks BMP s audit for timber management practices and the regulated streamside management zones (SMZ s) 98% compliance on State, Federal and private timber harvest lands in 2012 (CanFor participated in Montana audit in 2014) MOU and Conservation Agreement for WSCT in Montana maintain identified conservation populations For hybridization targeting the source and using barriers, trapping and electro- fishing In BC Flathead MT FWP imlplements: Baseline fisheries and habitat distribution Hybridization status Monitoring for BT redds Substrate coring Tissue sampling for heavy metals!! Monitor!increases! in!land!use!! 2014!results!! Pincher!=!35%!! Harvey!=!38%!! Howell!=!47%! Future Goal: collaboratively develop and implement TB monitoring strategies, including habitat, spawning, hybridization and population status Understanding Westslope Cutthroat Trout Hybridization Risks in Southeast B.C.; H. Lamson Pure WCT have experienced range reductions due to hybridization; the species is SARA and red- listed in Alberta, SARA ad blue listed in B.C., and occupy ~ 10% of their historical range in MT and ID WCT occupy 8-20% of their entire native range BC has a management plan for WCT in BC to meet needs of SARA and BC Freshwater Fisheries Program Whiteswan Lake Fisheries Management Plan source of RBT, drains into the Kootenai Minimize conservation risks to native WCT and maintain angling, Monitor Hybridization, Fish Barriers Collaborationg with UM, USGS, Utah State on genetic analysis BC compiling data for integration into transboundary hybridization database (USGS)

st * DRAFT October 1, 2015 Future work: database integration and collaborative genetic sampling Na#ve&Ranges&(Behnke&2002)& Rainbow)trout)(note)barriers)) Cu#hroat)trout)(WCT)blue)) Glacier National Park Native Fish Management and Conservation Actions in the TB Flathead River System; C. Downs GNP manages to conserve and enhance native fish Suppressing Lake Trout in Quartz Lake (USGS partnership) Redds increasing Additional LT suppression efforts, BT translocation efforts, fish barriers and fish passage improvements Future direction: Restoration of native aquatic systems, Climate change adaptation and angling for native species AIS prevention mandatory inspections since 2010 Quartz"Lake"Progress" Angler&Catch&Rate& Adult&lake&trout&removed& 160" 120" Fish"per"Hour"" 0.6" 0.5" 0.4" 0.3" 0.2" 0.1" 0" lake" bull" 2010" 2011" 2013" 2014" 80" Number&of&bull&trout&redds& 40" 80" 0" 2009" 2010" 2011" 2012" 2013" 2014" 60" 40" 20" 20 03 " 20 05 " 20 07 " 20 09 " 20 11 " 20 13 " 0" 8 Implementing the BC- MT MOU; April 30th, 2015: Fisheries/Aquatics

Aquatic Invasive Species; Cross- border strategy for monitoring, prevention and rapid response; C. Miske Preventing the spread of invasive mussels and EWM Geographic scope; Flathead Basin, State of Montana, Crown of the Continent, Province of Alberta, GNLCC Regional alignment on monitoring and prevention protocols Development of an AIS Strategic Prevention Plan, includies Eduction, Monitoring, Perimeter defense and Rapid Response Discussion: Opportunities and Next Steps Collaborative opportunities Potential for B.C. to work with Crown Managers Partnership on non- fish AIS threats A. Oestrich is the key contact with FLNRO B.C. interested in focusing on monitoring component in the Flathead Basin Continue having Montana assist barrier for BC is the size of the Flathead relative to the rest of the FLNRO jurisdiction B.C. fulfillment of agreement with NCC continues to be a priority B.C. testing transboundary collaboration with GNLCC TB Flathead is a good pilot or demonstration project for GNLCC Use LIDAR in TB Flathead to look at data applications to management (e.g.; S. caribou recovery) Standardize monitoring across basin and implement collaboratively (redd counts, coring and scoring, temperature data, flow, water quality, CABIN protocol) Apply MOU beyond the TB Flathead boundary Collaboratively put projects forward to GNLCC for funding Re- sign the MOU with Tribes/First Nations signatures Develop Over- arching stewardship objectives Establish conservation populations for bull trout and wct trout (treated lakes with barriers, etc) Actions Formal invitation to KNC and CSKT to sign MOU and join Executive and Technical Committees Pick a discrete Demonstration Project Transboundary o Example WSCT work between FLNRO and USGS, funded by GNLCC important transboundary dataset o Transboundary Forestry Exchange field tours of forestry work in Flathead on both sides of the border Validate NetMap Inventory lakes in BC Flathead for lake trout Opportunity to go through FWP for fin clip analysis Monitor genetics over time; 1. Trend analysis and 2. Baseline Can GNLCC assist with BC fish biologist capacity along the lines of the Columbia Basin Trust funding a Compliance Officer on Koocanusa?

Tie MOU to Annual Report - communicate out on successes transboundary datasets for fish populations did not exist ten years ago Explore opportunity to use LCMap as common data interface for MOU implementation o USGS building open temperature portal and hybridization database Meet annually right before GNLCC Steering Community Other partners to consider at table; Canfor, Environment Canada, Department of Fisheries and Oceans Discrete projects with Industry (Teck, Canfor), but not membership to Technical and Executive Committees NetMap, LIDAR useful tools for industry Appendix A. Meeting Agenda IMPLEMENTING THE BC- MT MOU: April 30th, 2015: FISHERIES/AQUATICS 10:00 Scott Bischke Welcome - Overview of Meeting Agenda Facilitator 10:15 John Krebs Introductions welcome from B.C. BC FLNRO 10:30 Erin Sexton Overview of MOU and Work to Date University of Montana Framework for the Flathead MOU and Transboundary Flathead Work Plan 11:00 Representative Jurisdictional Synopsis - Round Robin From Each Agency or Entity Each agency will have 3 minutes to update on Top Priorities in the Transboundary Flathead 11:30 Clint Muhlfeld/Ric Hauer Vulnerability assessments for Bull trout and Westslope USGS /U Montana cutthroat: Implications for Adaptive Management 12:30 Lunch Provided on site hosted by the Province of B.C. 1:00 Matt Heller/Greg Watson NetMap Watershed Assessment for the Transboundary USFWS Flathead Analysis of road surface erosion and other watershed attributes 1:30 Amber Steed Shared Migratory Salmonids - spawning habitat and population MT FWP status monitoring 10 Implementing the BC- MT MOU; April 30 th, 2015: Fisheries/Aquatics

2:00 Heather Lamson Understanding Westslope Cutthroat Hybridization Risks in Southeast B.C. 2:30 Chris Downs Developing a Collaborative Fisheries Conservation and Glacier National Park Management Program in Glacier National Park: Where we are now and where we are going 3:00 Caryn Miske Aquatic Invasive Species FBC Cross- border strategy for monitoring, prevention and rapid response 3:30 Break 3:45 Scott Bischke Discussion Facilitator 1. Opportunities for collaborative management; referencing the Aquatic Adaptation Framework 2. Opportunities for future collaborative projects 3. Next steps 5:00 Adjourn 11 Implementing the BC- MT MOU; April 30 th, 2015: Fisheries/Aquatics

Appendix B. BC/MT Transboundary Flathead MOU 12 Implementing the BC- MT MOU; April 30 th, 2015: Fisheries/Aquatics

13 Implementing the BC- MT MOU; April 30 th, 2015: Fisheries/Aquatics