Portland,
Ore . - The Kalispel Tribe of Indians is joining the growing ranks of Northwest
states and tribes that are working in partnership with the Bonneville Power
Administration, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Bureau of
Reclamation in an unprecedented set of agreements designed to improve habitat
and strengthen fish stocks in the upper Columbia River Basin over the next 10
years.
The
new agreement focuses on actions to address impacts of Albeni Falls Dam on fish
and wildlife in the area of Lake Pend Oreille and the Tribe’s Reservation along
the Pend Oreille River about 55 miles north of Spokane, Wash. The agreement
recognizes the Tribe’s resource management expertise and its interest in
operations at Albeni Falls Dam and includes specific provisions for the Tribe
to participate in decisions that affect fish, wildlife and water quality.
“The
Kalispel Tribe is excited to see this agreement come to fruition as a result of
nearly two decades of positive working relationships and on-the-ground
successes. We believe this is just the beginning of a strong partnership with
the federal agencies and we are hopeful for the future of our important and
treasured resources,” said Glen Nenema, Kalispel Tribal Chairman.
The
agreement makes available approximately $39.5 million over 10 years, including
$2.5 million for land acquisitions for wildlife habitat. The Tribe has
identified habitat projects to benefit Endangered Species Act listed bull trout
as well as west slope cutthroat trout and mountain whitefish. In addition, the
new agreement provides for the Tribe, Corps and BPA to work together on
improving water management actions in late summer and early fall to improve
downstream water temperature for bull trout and other aquatic species.
“This
agreement shows our collective resolve to work together to protect the fish and
wildlife resources at Albeni Falls Dam,” said Dave Ponganis, regional director
of programs for the Corps’ Northwest Division office.
The
agreement is similar to the 10-year Columbia Basin Fish Accords signed in May
2008 by the Corps, BPA, Reclamation, the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the
Yakama Nation, the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, the
Confederated Tribes of the Warm Spring Reservation and the Columbia River
Inter-Tribal Fish Commission. Separate
agreements were signed with the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Indian
Reservation, the State of Idaho, the State of Montana and the Shoshone-Bannock
Tribe. The State of Washington signed an agreement with the federal agencies in
2009 for work in the Columbia River estuary.
The
Accords include a slate of actions in habitat, hatchery and research, monitoring
and evaluation that will improve the prospects for recovery of listed salmon,
bull trout and steelhead. They are the result of a multi-year collaboration and
reflect a new era of partnership among States and tribes and the federal
agencies to protect Columbia River Basin fish.
“BPA
is pleased to add the Kalispel Tribe to the growing list of tribes and states
that are working together as partners to provide on-the-ground benefits for
fish and wildlife,” said Lorri Bodi, vice president for BPA Environment, Fish
and Wildlife. Today there is widespread agreement that this comprehensive
approach is the best plan for fish.”
The
Kalispel Indian Reservation is located approximately 55 miles north of Spokane
in Pend Oreille County. Portions of the Pend Oreille River and its tributaries
lie within the boundaries of the Reservation as established by an executive
order in 1914. The development of the federal dams on the Columbia River has
had significant, long-term adverse effects of the culture, natural resources
and economy of the Kalispel Tribe.
The
FCRPS includes dams owned and operated by the Corps and Reclamation. BPA
markets and distributes the electricity produced at these dams throughout the
Northwest.
