A new report from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service cites "tremendous progress" in the first year of tribal management at the National Bison Range in Montana.

But the report also says the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes failed to complete some of the tasks at the range. Although the tribe was "fully successful" at completing 41 percent of its duties, 24 percent of activities need "improvement" while 13 percent were "unsuccessful."

The tribe and the FWS entered into an annual funding agreement to share management of the range. Critics, including conservation groups and employee groups, say the report indicates the tribe can't complete the job.

The tribe submitted a lengthy response to the FWS, saying it was "disappointed" by some of the report's findings.

Get the Story:
Report critical of Bison Range management (The Missoulian 7/30)

Evaluation Report:
Implementation of the Annual Funding Agreement (May 2006)

Relevant Links:
Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes - http://www.cskt.org
National Bison Range - http://bisonrange.fws.gov
Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility - http://www.peer.org

Related Stories:
Hearing planned on tribe's bison range agreement (03/17)
Bison range agreement affects six federal employees (02/09)
Tribal refuge agreement hailed as positive step (12/16)
Montana tribe to sign wildlife refuge agreement (12/15)
Burns holds 'veto' over bison range agreement (12/15)
Changes proposed in tribe's role at bison range (12/06)
Senator seeks delay to tribe's bison range contract (11/01)
Editorial: Let tribes control their own destinies (10/26)
Tribe's management at bison range protested (10/19)
Tribe's management at bison range will save money (10/14)
Montana tribe takes questions on role at bison range (09/16)
Some still question tribal role at National Bison Range (09/10)
Montana tribe to manage some duties at bison range (9/8)
Group doesn't want tribe to manage bison refuge (07/21)
Agreement reached on bison range management (07/01)
Campbell warns BIA's Anderson of 'Washington' attitude (05/13)
Alaska tribes sign agreement for refuge services (05/03)
Campbell says agencies afraid of helping tribes (04/30)
Campbell bill to address contract support costs (4/28)
Tribal bison range talks continue (10/9)
Talks on tribal takeover of bison range continue (09/08)
New York Times: Tribes can manage bison range (9/3)
Opposition attacks tribal takeover of bison range (9/2)
Tribal agreement on bison range not ready yet (08/04)
Report: Don't let tribes manage bison range (07/17)
Tribal takeover of bison range draws attention (07/08)
Talks on tribal takeover of bison range to continue (07/03)
DOI tribal contracting policy in dispute (6/16)
Group opposing tribal control of park units (6/10)
Tribal members defend takeover of bison range (6/4)
Group opposes tribal takeover of bison range (6/2)
Tribal takeover of bison range moving forward (05/20)
DOI wants Mont. tribe to manage bison range (5/16)