[Vision2020] Fwd: Tribes and feds end decades of legal battles to begin new era
Tom Trail
ttrail at moscow.com
Fri May 2 16:55:48 PDT 2008
>Visionaries:
This press release may be of interest.
Tom Trail
>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
>FRIDAY, MAY 2, 2008
>MEDIA CONTACTS: PLEASE SEE END OF RELEASE
>
>Tribes and feds end decades of legal battles to begin new era
>
>Special tribal ceremony at sacred Columbia River Basin site today
>underscores collaborative approach that puts fish first
>
>Dallesport, Wash. - Years of divisiveness over salmon recovery
>efforts in the Columbia River Basin ended today for the tribes and
>federal agencies that signed unprecedented agreements designed to
>deliver specific, scientifically valid biological results for the
>region's fish. The agreements, celebrated today with traditional
>tribal ceremonies at a place of cultural significance in the
>Columbia River Gorge, are now called The Columbia Basin Fish Accords.
>
>The Accords are designed to supplement biological opinions for
>listed salmon and steelhead and the Northwest Power and Conservation
>Council's fish and wildlife program. They provide firm commitments
>to hydro, habitat and hatchery actions; greater clarity about
>biological benefits and secure funding for 10 years. NOAA Fisheries
>is preparing to release its latest biological opinions for the U.S.
>District Court of Oregon on May 5, 2008.
>
>The Accords were signed at Columbia Hills State Park, a historical
>village and fishing site where, carved into the rocks above, is
>"Tsagaglalal," or "She Who Watches." Tribal legend explains that
>Tsagaglalal was turned into stone so she could remain at her village
>to watch over the river and its people for eternity.
>
>"It gives us great pride and hope to be in this special place, with
>the spirit of Tsagaglalal watching us - our witnesses to this day,
>hearing us say that through these Accords we commit to doing more to
>protect and restore the region's fish populations," said Fidelia
>Andy, tribal council member for the Yakama Nation and chair of the
>Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission.
>
>The proposed agreements and corresponding public comment period were
>first announced April 7, 2008, and today's signing signaled the
>successful completion of that process.
>
>"These Accords move the focus away from gavel-to-gavel management
>and toward gravel-to-gravel management," said Steve Wright, BPA
>administrator. "By putting litigation behind us and putting actions
>to help fish in front of us, we will better ensure that Columbia
>Basin fish will benefit."
>
>(more)
>
>The signing of these Accords culminates two years of extensive
>negotiations, at the behest of U.S. District Court of Oregon Judge
>James Redden, among Indian tribes and the federal action agencies
>that have responsibilities for operating and maintaining the Federal
>Columbia River Power System (FCRPS) as well as for selling the power
>from these facilities: the Bonneville Power Administration, U.S.
>Army Corps of Engineers and the Bureau of Reclamation. The FCRPS
>action agencies have agreements with the following tribes and tribal
>entities:
>
> The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation;
>
>The Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon;
>The Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation;
>The Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission;
>* The Confederated Tribes of the Colville Indian Reservation.
>
> With the Accords signed, the tribes and federal agencies will
>immediately move forward with new projects as well as continuing
>existing projects throughout the Columbia River Basin. In addition,
>the federal agencies have also reached agreement with the states of
>Idaho and Montana. The state of Washington has announced its support
>for this partnership approach.
>
>Under these agreements, the federal agencies and tribes will work
>together as partners "on the ground" to provide tangible survival
>benefits for salmon recovery - by upgrading passage over federal
>dams, by restoring river and estuary habitat, and by creative use of
>hatcheries. They will also advocate for the agreements in other
>regional forums.
>
>While the Accords address the needs of salmon and steelhead, they
>also focus on non-listed species such as Pacific lamprey.
>Specifically, under these Accords, the Corps plans to work to
>implement adult and juvenile passage improvement measures for
>lamprey.
>
>"Pacific lamprey are immensely important to our region," said Witt
>Anderson, Corps program director. "Our planned passage improvements
>for the benefit of lamprey are but one example of the holistic
>approach to fish recovery being taken by partners to these Accords."
>
>For specific details of the Accords and the types of projects
>involved, please visit: www.critfc.org and www.salmonrecovery.gov.
>For an electronic press kit, available this afternoon, please visit
>BPA's Web site at: www.bpa.gov/corporate/BPAnews/Perspective/.
>
>Additional comments from regional tribal, federal and other leaders
>about these Accords:
>
>"These fish accords respect the sovereignty of the Tribes. They
>break from the history of federal agencies developing a plan
>themselves, and then telling the Tribes what they would or could
>provide for salmon. This did not work. Misunderstandings, hard
>feelings, and litigation are what we produced. The foundation of
>these accords is respect among sovereigns -- respect for the
>expertise and authority of the Tribes. Working with Tribes as
>sovereigns allowed us to put our hearts and minds to looking for
>opportunity and solutions for the rivers and the salmon. We have a
>lot of work to do to restore salmon, lamprey, and steelhead. We
>pause for a few hours on this day to celebrate a new partnership, a
>new respect for our sovereignty, to honor this new accord. Tomorrow
>we return to our sacred work with vigor, dedication, and optimism."
>~Chairman Ron Suppah, Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs
>Reservation of Oregon
>
>"The Umatilla Tribe has long recognized that collaboration and
>partnerships are essential to salmon recovery. Each one of us
>brings something special and unique to this agreement. It's this
>diversity of resources and knowledge that will be instrumental to
>our success. The Umatilla Tribe knows this to be true based on
>demonstrated success of restoring salmon to the Umatilla River. I
>am hopeful that the next ten years will see great strides in the
>health of the Columbia River Basin, the salmon, and those who depend
>on their existence."
>~Chairman Antone Minthorn, Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla
>Indian Reservation
>
>"Today we set aside litigation and opt for cooperation with our
>federal partners. We have been in the courts for ten years and have
>not gained the resources needed to protect these creations. Now,
>working towards recovery, we will focus our efforts and energy on
>the task of fish recovery instead of continually girding ourselves
>for litigation. Cooperation will be the nature of our relationship
>recognizing that both fish and hydroelectric power are important to
>the Yakama Nation and to the people of the Northwest."
>~ Chairman Ralph Sampson, Jr., Confederated Tribes and Bands of the
>Yakama Nation
>
>"Our people and the fish that are part of our lives come from the
>headwaters of the Columbia River Basin. These Accords will allow
>work to take place for the benefit of fish from the ocean up to the
>headwaters, addressing the whole salmon life cycle along the way. We
>think these Accords are a turning point in the way people in the
>Basin address fish recovery and we look forward to being an
>integrated part of this strong partnership. This finally brings
>funding for projects to the fish of the upper Columbia. In the past,
>all production measures were put out of reach of the Collville
>people. These Accords bring fish back to the Colville people."
>~ Chairman Mike Marchand, Confederated Tribes of the Colville Indian
>Reservation
>
> "Today, as partners, we are making a tremendous step forward in an
>endeavor that will bring benefits for decades to come."
>~ Col. Steven Miles, Commander, Northwestern Division, U.S. Army
>Corps of Engineers
>
>"These Accords show that, working together, we can improve habitat
>for fish while respecting traditional agricultural values."
>~ Bill McDonald, Bureau of Reclamation Regional Director
>
>Media Contacts:
>
>Brent Hall, Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation,
>541-966-2336
>John Ogan, Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of
>Oregon, 503-382-3011
>Ralph Sampson, Jr., Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama
>Nation, 509-865-5121
>Tim Weaver, Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, 509-575-1500
>Charles Hudson, Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission, 503-731-1257
>Joe Peone, Confederated Tribes of the Colville Indian Reservation,
>509-634-2113
>Scott Simms, Bonneville Power Administration, 503-230-3520
>Michael Coffey, Army Corps of Engineers, 503-808-3722
>Diana Cross, Bureau of Reclamation, 208-378-5006
>
># # #
>
>
>
> <http://www.piersystem.com/go/doc/1582/200964/>View
>this document online
>
> <http://www.bpa.gov/corporate/BPAnews/nreleases.cfm>Bonneville
>Power Administration
>Bonneville Newsroom
>
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--
Dr. Tom Trail
International Trails
1375 Mt. View Rd.
Moscow, Id. 83843
Tel: (208) 882-6077
Fax: (208) 882-0896
e mail ttrail at moscow.com
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