WNTI Strategic PlanningWNTI Strategic Planning

Robin Knox – WNTI Robin Knox – WNTI CoordinatorCoordinator

“A National Fish Habitat Partnership”

Western Native Trout InitiativeWestern Native Trout Initiative(WNTI)(WNTI)

Presented by Presented by Robin KnoxRobin KnoxCoordinator

Western Native Trout InitiativeWestern Native Trout Initiative

Distribution of Native Inland Trout (Oncorhynchus) and Char (Salvelinus)

Of the Western United States

Adapted from Behnke 1992

Bull trout

Lahontan Cutthroat

Paiute Cutthroat

Little Kern Golden trout

California Golden trout

Bonneville Cutthroat

Gila trout

Apache trout

Rio Grande Cutthroat

Greenback Cutthroat

Colorado River Cutthroat

Yellowstone Cutthroat

Westslope Cutthroat

CoastalCutthroat

Redband trout

Western Native Trout InitiativeWestern Native Trout Initiative

• A program of the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (WAFWA) to provide consistency to management of western native trout among state and federal agencies with the goal of improving the status of the species resulting in de-listing and increased public benefits.

Western Native Trout InitiativeWestern Native Trout Initiative

• Governance: WNTI Management Structure

- WAFWA Directors

- Inland & Marine Fisheries Committee

- WNTI Executive Management Team

- WNTI Coordinator

WNTI Organizational StructureWAFWA Directors Director Chair -

I nland and Marine Fisheries Committee

Strategic Plan

Native Trout Projects

WAFWA Directors

WNTI Steering Comm.

WNTI COORDINATOR

15 Species Planning Groups

Ad Hoc Working Groups

RegionalWorking Groups

FUNDI NG

WAFWA

Fiduciary Science and Data sub-committee

CommunicationSub-committee

OtherFunding

WNTIPartners Council

The WNTI Steering Committee will not exceed 11 members with the following representation:

One chairperson – appointed by Inland and Marine Fisheries Committee Chair

Four state agencies - one from each of the four WNTI geographical groupings (WAFWA IMFC members)

Three federal agencies – selected from WAFWA member federal agencies (FWS, FS, BLM)

One conservation organization representative

One tribal nation or organizational representative

One Canadian provincial representative

Support staff - WNTI coordinator

Western Native Trout InitiativeWestern Native Trout Initiative

Partnership Development:

12 Western States 5 Federal Agencies – FWS, BLM, FS, NPS, NRCS

Tribal Interests NFWF, TU, FFF, MWC, YF, Others Locally, at the watershed level

Western Native Trout InitiativeWestern Native Trout Initiative

Strategic Planning: Completion Jan ‘08

• MSG Phase 1 – Species Status Assessment Report

• MSG Phase 2 – Strategic Plan Development

Western Native Trout InitiativeWestern Native Trout Initiative

WNTI Species Assessment Report – Obstacles to WNTI Species Assessment Report – Obstacles to

Native Trout ConservationNative Trout Conservation::Habitat Concerns - degradation, connectivity, land Habitat Concerns - degradation, connectivity, land use impacts, water quality, energy development, use impacts, water quality, energy development, climate changeclimate changePopulation Concerns – fragmentation, lack of timely Population Concerns – fragmentation, lack of timely data, impact of non-native and invasive species, data, impact of non-native and invasive species, disease, genetic guidance inconsistenciesdisease, genetic guidance inconsistenciesRegulatory concerns – inconsistency in enforcement Regulatory concerns – inconsistency in enforcement of regulations and inconsistent policiesof regulations and inconsistent policiesEducation and Outreach Concerns – public Education and Outreach Concerns – public understanding and support, lack of outreach and understanding and support, lack of outreach and educational materialseducational materialsCoordinated Planning Concerns – Collaborative Coordinated Planning Concerns – Collaborative strategic actions, coordinated approachesstrategic actions, coordinated approaches

WNTI’s Strategic Approach

Mission

The mission of WNTI is to serve as a key catalyst for the implementation of conservation or management actions, through partnerships and cooperative eff orts that result in improved species status, improved aquatic habitats, and improved recreational opportunities for native trout anglers.

Vision

The vision of the Western Native Trout Initiative is three-fold:To have healthy, fishable western native trout populations. This will result from increased commitment to action on common conservation, management and communication goals through partnerships and joint venture conservation strategies.

To inspire greater public involvement in the conservation of native trout through multiple partners working together, sharing resources, and speaking with a united voice about the conservation and value of western native trout.

To increase funding for strategic actions through increased community and financial support from initiative partners and collaborators.

Approach

The Western Native Trout Initiative is a partnership comprised of agencies, organizations, tribes and others committed to smarter, better, faster and more well-funded conservation efforts for native trout.

Western Native Trout InitiativeWestern Native Trout Initiative

WNTI Strategic Plan – Principal ObjectivesWNTI Strategic Plan – Principal Objectives

Conserve, enhance and restore native trout habitatsConserve, enhance and restore native trout habitats Protect, enhance and restore native trout populations Protect, enhance and restore native trout populations

throughout their rangesthroughout their ranges Implement collaborative and coordinated approaches at Implement collaborative and coordinated approaches at

regional, state, and local levelsregional, state, and local levels Develop effective communication and outreach tools to Develop effective communication and outreach tools to

increase public awareness and support for native troutincrease public awareness and support for native trout Increase funding and local partnerships to implement Increase funding and local partnerships to implement

specific native trout projects that improve the status of specific native trout projects that improve the status of the fish.the fish.

Gain recognition as a National Fish Habitat Partnership to Gain recognition as a National Fish Habitat Partnership to receive increased fundingreceive increased funding

Western Native Trout InitiativeWestern Native Trout Initiative

WNTI Success Stories – Projects funded:

La Barge Creek Barrier construction – WY – Colorado River cutthroat

Bear Wallow Creek barrier construction – AZ, FS, San Carlos Apache Tribe – Apache trout

Badger Creek reconnection and habitat improvement – ID, TU, private landowners – Bull Trout

2008-9 12 WNTI HFHAP funded projects 2008-9 3 FWS Terminal Lakes funded projects 2007-9 26 National Fish and Wildlife Foundation funded

projects

“It’s time to move the Needle!!”IMPLEMENT!!!

Jim Martin, Berkley Conservation Institute

Lahontan Cutthroat TroutLahontan Cutthroat Trout