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to begin</title></head><body>
<blockquote type="cite" cite>Visionaries:</blockquote>
<div><br>
<br>
</div>
<div>This press release may be of interest.</div>
<div><br></div>
<div>Tom Trail</div>
<div><br></div>
<blockquote type="cite" cite align="right"><b>FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE<br>
FRIDAY, MAY 2, 2008</b><br>
<b>MEDIA CONTACTS: PLEASE SEE END OF RELEASE</b><br>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite align="center"><b>Tribes and feds end
decades of legal battles to begin new era</b><br>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite align="center"><b>Special tribal ceremony
at sacred Columbia River Basin site today<br>
underscores collaborative approach that puts fish first</b><br>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite><b>Dallesport, Wash. -</b> 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.<br>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite>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.<br>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite>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.<br>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite>"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.<br>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite>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.<br>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite>"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."<br>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite>(more)<br>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite>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:<br>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite> The Confederated Tribes of the
Umatilla Indian Reservation;<br>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite>
<ul>
<li>The Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon;
<li>The Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation;
<li>The Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission;</ul>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite>* The Confederated Tribes of the
Colville Indian Reservation.<br>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite> 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.<br>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite>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.</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite><br></blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite>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.<br>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite>"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."<br>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite>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/.<br>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite>Additional comments from regional tribal,
federal and other leaders about these Accords:<br>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite>"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."<br>
~Chairman Ron Suppah, Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs
Reservation of Oregon<br>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite>"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."<br>
~Chairman Antone Minthorn, Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian
Reservation<br>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite>"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."<br>
~ Chairman Ralph Sampson, Jr., Confederated Tribes and Bands of the
Yakama Nation<br>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite>"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."<br>
~ Chairman Mike Marchand, Confederated Tribes of the Colville Indian
Reservation<br>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite> "Today, as partners, we are
making a tremendous step forward in an endeavor that will bring
benefits for decades to come."<br>
~ Col. Steven Miles, Commander, Northwestern Division, U.S. Army Corps
of Engineers<br>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite>"These Accords show that, working
together, we can improve habitat for fish while respecting traditional
agricultural values."</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite>~ Bill McDonald, Bureau of Reclamation
Regional Director<br>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite>Media Contacts:<br>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite>Brent Hall, Confederated Tribes of the
Umatilla Indian Reservation, 541-966-2336<br>
John Ogan, Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of
Oregon, 503-382-3011<br>
Ralph Sampson, Jr., Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama
Nation, 509-865-5121<br>
Tim Weaver, Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation,
509-575-1500<br>
Charles Hudson, Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission,
503-731-1257<br>
Joe Peone, Confederated Tribes of the Colville Indian Reservation,
509-634-2113<br>
Scott Simms, Bonneville Power Administration, 503-230-3520<br>
Michael Coffey, Army Corps of Engineers, 503-808-3722<br>
Diana Cross, Bureau of Reclamation, 208-378-5006<br>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite align="center"># # #</blockquote>
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<x-sigsep><pre>--
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<div>Dr. Tom Trail<br>
International Trails<br>
1375 Mt. View Rd.<br>
Moscow, Id. 83843<br>
Tel: (208) 882-6077<br>
Fax: (208) 882-0896<br>
e mail ttrail@moscow.com</div>
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