[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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