Local Tribes in the Pacific Northwest have always relied on local waterways for food, community and culture. Rivers and their floodplains have been diverted, drained or rechanneled for infrastructure or to increase agricultural production over the last 100 years; changes that have had lasting, negative effects on water quality and ecosystem health. Rehabilitating rivers at watershed scales to improve fish and wildlife habitat and stream health is challenging because lands are owned and managed by a mix of Tribal, public and private lands.

The Coeur d’Alene Tribe’s Reservation encompasses the headwaters of Hangman Creek, and the Tribe is working to bring a native salmon population back to the river. Hangman Creek is identified and listed as a polluted stream under the Clean Water Act due to excess sediments, nutrients, fecal coliforms, temperatures and low dissolved oxygen, and is known for its seasonal flooding across the watershed. Floodplain connection and rehabilitation is a proposed mechanism to improve the current state of the river by addressing pollution issues and supporting current fish and future salmon habitat, as well as build climate resilience into the system. To make floodplain changes across the reaches of Hangman Creek, private landholders in the area need to be engaged. Currently, there is little information on private landholder perceptions on floodplain connection and rehabilitation of river systems. Understanding their concerns and willingness to adopt adaptation strategies is necessary before planning and implementation can begin.

Through this project, Seth will collaborate with the Coeur d’Alene Tribe’s Natural Resource Department to identify problems and solutions to Hangman Creek floodplain connection. Seth will interview private landholders to investigate the ecological, social and economic impact of landholder participation in floodplain connection on their land. Seth will share the results of these interviews with the Coeur d’Alene Tribe, which will help inform future engagement by the Tribe and natural resource agencies when pursuing floodplain connection with private landholders. This research will contribute to floodplain connection literature, which lacks empirical studies of landholder perspectives on floodplain connection. The data from this research can guide others wanting to implement large-scale floodplain rehabilitation efforts and beginning private landholder engagement.