Projects

UCUT Projects: Tribal-Led Environmental Restoration, Fish & Wildlife Conservation, and Cultural Preservation in the Upper Columbia Basin

Advancing Tribal Sovereignty and Environmental Stewardship in the Upper Columbia River Basin

At the Upper Columbia United Tribes (UCUT), we are dedicated to protecting and enhancing the natural and cultural resources of the Upper Columbia River Basin. Through collaborative efforts among our five Member Tribes, we implement science-based projects that promote fish and wildlife conservation, habitat restoration, cultural preservation, and climate resilience.

Grand Coulee and the Forgotten Tribe

For thousands of years, the Spokane River was the lifeblood of the Spokane Tribe. When Grand Coulee Dam was completed in 1942, Lake Roosevelt was created, raising the waters of the Columbia and Spokane Rivers some 70 feet. Traditional fishing sites, burial …

UCUT and Bonneville Power Administration Partnership

Memorandum of Understanding A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) and UCUT and its five member tribes was signed in 2005. It is intended to further the mutual interests of the parties and improve relationships and …

Tribal Salmon Management, Harvesting and Sharing

We Are Salmon Nations For thousands of years, the UCUT were salmon nations and managers of salmon resources, and we still are today. Despite the blockage and extirpation of all salmon and steelhead runs throughout the Upper Columbia River system due to …

Pow Wow and Community Outreach

The UCUT provides a high-level service to our five member tribes and their enrolled members by participating at annual powwows, encampments and gatherings that our tribes organize. The UCUT central staff set up a display booth and talk with people …

Forests and Fish Report

The Forests and Fish Report, in conjunction with its Habitat Conservation Plan and Adaptive Management Program, is the implementation of a 50-year one-of-a-kind statewide program that covers over nine million acres of state and private forest lands. This program …

Drumheller Springs Natural Park

The economy and quality of life for residents of the greater Inland Northwest region are directly tied to our natural environment. With this in mind, the UCUT formally adopted an urban, north-side Spokane Park called Drumheller Springs in 2005.

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Fish

Resident and anadromous fish were once abundant throughout the region. They provided spiritual, nutritional and cultural needs and served as a critical component to a healthy ecosystem. We work to reintroduce these native species back into the Upper Columbia River Basin.

Wildlife

We aim to restore wildlife habitat on tribal lands through the rehabilitation, protection and maintenance of crucial wildlife corridors and ways of life.

Environment

UCUT protects the environmental health of the Upper Columbia Basin through science-based action and tribal collaboration—addressing climate change, forest health, and ecosystem resilience.

Habitat

Our territories feature unique and stunning landscape including forested mountains, grass-covered hills, and rivers and watersheds. We work to restore habitat on tribal lands.

Culture

We promote culture by sharing our knowledge, preserving our sacred practices and protecting the traditional lands of our ancestors.

Education & Outreach

UCUT fosters awareness and understanding through educational programs, public outreach, and community engagement—building strong connections to the land, culture, and science that guide our work.

Have Questions or Want to Get Involved?

Whether you’re a partner organization, community member, or simply passionate about protecting the Upper Columbia River Basin, we’d love to hear from you. Reach out to learn more about our projects, share ideas, or explore opportunities to collaborate.

Contact UCUT