Reservation Demographics

TOTAL SIZE:1.4 Million Acres (2,100 Square Miles)

Twelve Bands compose the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation:

• Wenatchee
• Nespelem
• Moses-Columbia
• Methow

• Colville
• Okanogan
• Palus
• San Poil

• Entiat
• Chelan
• Nez Perce
• Lake

TRIBAL ENROLLMENT TOTAL: 8,700

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE RESERVATION

Topography: Elevation of the Reservation lands generally increase from South to North and from West to East. Elevations range from 790 feet at the mouth of the Okanogan River to 6,774 feet at the Summit of Moses Mountain. Average elevation of the Reservation is above 3,000 feet.

Climate: Summers, on the plains, are sunny, warm and dry with some hot days. During 4 or 5 months, in the lower elevations extreme highs may be 100°F, while, in the higher elevations 1 or 2 months may reach above 90°F. In winter, minimum temperatures of -10° to -20°F are common although a few stations report -25° to -30°F. Normally, precipitation is light in the summer and heaviest in the winter. Valleys and lowlands receive and average of 10 to 14 inches of precipitation; in the mountains, precipitation increases with elevation where 25 to 30 inches per year can be expected on the higher ridges, with the majority occurring as snow. Growing seasons vary from over 180 days in the Southwest to less than 80 days in the forested highlands.

Geology: The Reservation lies in a physiographic province called the Okanogan Highlands. A period of compression and uplifting formed the present mountains, however, glacial erosion shaped much of the land to its present form.

Soils: The most abundant soil parent materials found on the Reservation are produced by glaciation, water laid glacial out wash or alluvium and lacustrine sediments are the only materials of major agricultural importance. Most of the soils that are suitable for cultivation occur on the level to undulating alluvial and out wash terraces and in isolated upland areas.

Vegetation's: The major vegetative cover is divided into two groups; forest and steppe. Forest areas range from open forested grasslands to dense coniferous forests. Dominant species in forested areas are Ponderosa Pine, Douglas Fir, Lodge Pole Pine, and Western Larch. Huckleberry, Service Berry, and a number of sub shrubs and roots are as important to Tribal gatherings today, as they were in years past.

Fish & Wildlife: Wildlife is plentiful on the Reservation. Deer hunting is open year-round to Tribal members only, and plays an important role as a food source. The Tribal elk herd numbers around 800 with a limited hunting season. Game bird populations and protected predators such as the Bald Eagle and Peregrine Falcon are managed by the Tribal Fish & Wildlife Department. The Sharp Tailed Grouse or Prairie Chicken is an endangered species with nesting and dancing grounds on the Reservation. Although salmon fishing is still an important food source, salmon runs are restricted due to the construction of Grand Coulee and Chief Joseph Dams on the Columbia River, but fishing on the numerous lakes and streams on the Reservation is still enjoyed by many Tribal members. Fishing permits are offered by the Tribal Fish and Wildlife Department.