Recipient Organization
SALISH KOOTENAI COLLEGE
P.O. BOX 117
PABLO,MT 59855
Performing Department
(N/A)
Non Technical Summary
Salish Kootenai College (SKC) Extension conducts an integrated program of extension, education, and research to advance topics related to ecological restoration. SKC provides programming on native plants, coordinate special initiatives, and work with the reservation community on programming to help resolve issues relevant to Land Grant programming areas. Our focus for the last five years has been to increase SKC's capacity to participate in ecological restoration on the reservation. We plan to continue the Extension project towards increasing capacity in knowledge of native plant propagation and educational outreach by developing projects, workforce development, and working with an informed public restorations. mplement an agreement with Salish and Kootenai Tribes to utilize a site for plots, develop site, and install irrigation. Prepare site, collect seed, and plant fall 2003.
Animal Health Component
100%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
100%
Developmental
(N/A)
Goals / Objectives
Implement an agreement with Salish and Kootenai Tribes to utilize a site for plots, develop site, and install irrigation. Prepare site, collect seed, and plant fall 2003. Manage plots for life of project. Implement weed management, monitor plantings, irrigate, and plant replacements. Conduct seed collections in collaboration with tribes and BRI. Grow plants for landscape and restoration projects. Develop Tribal College collaborations around water quality and native plant horticulture, develop and submit proposals. Conducts water quality opportunity education with tribal natural resource representatives. Conduct Intertribal Native Plant Working Group training.
Project Methods
Implementing the strategic plan SKC Land-Grant programs involves continuation of the current projects by developing personnel to gradually take over and native seed mixes for local use. Opportunity for tribal member seed enterprises will be promoted with workshops, one-on-one technical assistance, and farm cooperatives to share equipment, seed and information. Significant progress in water quality will depend upon successful funding requests made to the CSREES Water Quality Program and exploring Farm Bill Certification training with NRCS, partner institutions, and the Intertribal Agricultural Council. Approximately one quarter of the Extension Director's time will be dedicated to water quality to coordinate the formation of a Tribal College water quality network and farm bill certification opportunities. SKC Extension brings an innovative approach to natural resource education by having a native plant nursey. Staff and students work with project sponsors to identify
and design projects, collect seed and cutting, grow plants, and plants restoration sites. SKC weed education includes an insectory that produces two biological weed control agents for use on spotted knapweed. Extension personnel work with students to tend the rearing station and identify good locations for the release of the agents on Tribal, state, federal, and private land. SKC Extension coordinates investigations and research with outside agencies and institutions. Ongoing research will help define restoration methods for several different habitats and situations.