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THE CONFEDERATED TRIBES OF THE WARM SPRINGS RESERVATION OF OREGON
DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES
P.0. Box C, Warm Springs, Oregon 97761
Phone (541) 553-2001
Fax (541) 553-1994
RECOMMENDATION 021
May 11, 2000
Chairman F.L. Cassidy Jr.,
Northwest Power Planning Council
851 SW 6th Ave., Suite 1100
Portland, OR 97204-1348
Dear Chairman Cassidy,
The Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon (CTWSRO) offers the following recommendations for the Amendments to the Columbia Basin Fish and Wildlife Program.
Background
The CTWSRO is the modern-day successor to the seven bands of Wasco- and Sahaptin- speaking Indians of the mid-Columbia area whose representatives were signatories to the Treaty with the Tribes of Middle Oregon of June 25, 1855. Article I of the treaty describes the 10 million-acre area of eastern Oregon ceded by the tribes to the United States and sets out the boundaries of the Warm Springs reservation. Article I also contains the express reservation by the tribes to "the exclusive right of taking fish in the streams running through and bordering said reservation…and at all other usual and accustomed stations, in common with citizens of the United States."
Streams running through and bordering the reservation to which the tribes have exclusive fishing rights pursuant to Article I of the treaty include the Deschutes, Metolius, and Warm Springs River systems. Streams within the ceded area where the tribes have primary off-reservation rights at usual and accustomed fishing stations include the John Day River, Fifteenmile Creek and Hood River. Additionally, the tribes claim off-reservation rights at usual and accustomed stations on streams outside of the ceded area, which may be primary, secondary, or co-equal with the treaty rights of other tribes.
The Warm springs Tribes’ role as a management entity for purposes of subbasin planning in the upper Columbia River Basin is based on the tribes’ exclusive fishing rights in the Deschutes, Warm Springs, and Metolius river systems, primary fishing rights in the John Day River, Fifteenmile Creek, and Hood River; and on the provisions of the Columbia River Fish Management Plan.
Columbia Basin Goal
The CTWSRO goal for the Columbia Basin is to recover anadromous fish populations to sustainable, harvestable levels. This goal is discussed in the Wy-Kan-Ush-Mi Wa-Kish-Wit (Spirit of the Salmon, 1995) and, more recently in the CTWSRO Tribal Council Strategic Plan (1999).
Provincial Goals and Objectives
The ceded area and usual and accustomed sites of the CTWSRO fall into several of the "Ecological Provinces" discussed in the Notice of Request for Recommendations to the NWPPC Fish and Wildlife Program. These include the Columbia Gorge Province, the Columbia Plateau Province. We believe that visions, goals and objectives for these areas already exist in many forms, and while it may be interesting to evaluate ecological systems at the province level, and we will participate in any planning forums, the CTWSRO want to see planning expedited and funds spent on-the-ground, not on endless planning processes.
Attached are specific subbasin measure recommendations that are priorities for the CTWSRO, including measures currently in the Fish and Wildlife Program that we recommend continue to be funded. We request that these be incorporated into the revised Fish and Wildlife Program.
Thank you for the opportunity to submit these recommendations. If you have any questions, please call me.
Sincerely,
Terry Luther
Fish, Wildlife and Parks Manager
Subbasin Measures
We submit the following for specific program measures, and can provide more detail as requested.
ANADROMOUS FISH
Hood River Production Program
(existing measure in Program : 7.4L.2)
Project Description
Continue to implement the Hood River Production Project and the corresponding Pelton Dam Fish Ladder production. Fund Warm Springs Tribe and Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife to implement the Hood River Project to enhance populations of anadromous fish in the Hood River subbasin. Includes supplementation and habitat improvement strategies, in cooperation with Hood River watershed council.
Identify and acquire key parcels of land that relate to this project. Two parcels have been identified and may be available soon.
Estimated Costs
$1,500,000 annually (include two agencies), costs for land acquisitions not estimated yet.
Measurable Benefit
The project re-introduces spring chinook salmon, and enhances summer and winter steelhead populations in the Hood River subbasin. Habitat improvements benefit all species including threatened summer steelhead and bull trout. Salmon and steelhead are two species that are of high cultural value to the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs.
Two parcels of land have been identified that may be available for acquisition and are important to the project. One is directly adjacent to the Parkdale Fish Facility and may be needed in order to expand the Parkdale site to include fish rearing space. The second located is Punchbowl Falls, on the west fork and may be needed for an adult trapping location. In addition, Punchbowl Falls is a traditional fishing location for native Americans.
Estimated Time Required to implement proposed amendment
Annual implementation required.
Pacific lamprey
*High priority action for CTWSRO.
Project Description
Determine life distribution, abundance, life history patterns, cultural use patterns of Pacific Lamprey in the Deschutes and other subbasins within the CTWSRO ceded area. Pacific lamprey are an important cultural fish species.
Estimated Costs
$105,000 annually.
Measurable Benefit
This project will provide fish managers basic management information as well as provide information leading to restoration recommendations.
Estimated Time Required to implement proposed amendment
Three years of implementation, with additional monitoring.
Water optimization projects in the John Day River Basin
(existing measure in Program : 7.8H.2)
*High priority action due to lethal water quality and quantity issues, listed stocks.
Project Description
Continue to implement water conservation program begun in 1994 Fish and Wildlife Program as demonstration projects to optimize water use in the John Day Basin. Recognize the Bureau of Reclamation and Corps of Engineers as agencies with authority to assist this effort.
Estimated Costs
Estimated costs are $450,000 per year for planning, development and implementation. Significant cost share is likely with BOR and/or COE.
Measurable Benefit
Benefits can be directly measured as increased water remaining instream, decreased summer water temperatures, increased streambank stabilization and reduced sediment input.
Estimated Time Required to implement proposed amendment
This program requires a one or two year program implementation
schedule depending on depending on ESA consultation requirements, NEPA
requirements, and instream work window constraints. At least five years
of projects with willing landowners have been identified.
Habitat restoration on the Warm Springs Reservation
Project Description
Implement watershed restoration activities on the Warm Springs Reservation to increase watershed stability and promote natural watershed processes.. Specific activities include road eradication, culvert improvement and replacement, riparian fencing and off- stream water developments for livestock, and riparian plantings.
Estimated Costs
$93,000 per year with costs share opportunities with NRCS, Deschutes Resources Conservancy, Warm Springs Power Enterprises, and others.
Measurable Benefit
Improve the Cumulative Run-off analysis (CRA) ratings for watersheds on the Warm Springs Reservation.
Estimated Time Required to implement proposed amendment
Five years of annual implementation.
White River Terminal Fisheries Project
Project Description
Develop and implement a terminal fisheries project for the Deschutes subbasin. Evaluate lower White River as a project site. White River, a tributary of the Deschutes River is located just upstream of Sherar’s Falls which is a traditional fishing site for the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon.
Estimated Costs
Estimate costs are $850,000 for five years.
Measurable Benefit
This project would provide a direct source of salmon to harvest and an alternative location for tribal and non-tribal harvest of salmon, near Sherar’s Falls, a traditionally and currently used site for salmon harvest. Currently, no salmon occur in lower White River.
Estimated Time Required to implement proposed amendment
This project would be developed and implemented for five years.
Deschutes River Fall chinook salmon population estimation and monitoring
Project Description
Improve the methodology and precision of escapement estimates for fall chinook salmon in the Deschutes River.
Escapement estimates used with harvest data the results used by TAC in fall season fisheries modeling to set future ocean harvest limits in Alaska and Canada, in river and in Deschutes.
Estimated Costs
$100,400 per year for five years. Cost share may be available.
Measurable Benefit
The escapement estimates are used with harvest data to estimate Deschutes River run sizes. The results would be used by the Technical Advisory Committee of the US v. OR Columbia River Fish Management Plan, to set future ocean harvest limits in Alaska, Canada, the Columbia River and Deschutes River.
Estimated Time Required to implement proposed amendment
This project would take approximately four years
to fully implement.
RESIDENT FISH
Bull trout life history evaluation
(existing measure in Program : 10.5A.2)
Project Description
Continue to fund a study of the status, life history, habitat needs and limiting factors for bull trout populations in the Deschutes, Grande Ronde, Hood, John Day and Umatilla subbasins. All objectives have been met to date. There is a need to collect additional information on the main stem Deschutes River population of bull trout.
Estimated Costs
$90,000 per year.
Measurable Benefit
Measurable benefits include having information to make management decisions regarding the recovery of bull trout, which is listed as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act. Information would be collected on trends of abundance to measure success of bull trout recovery efforts. We will determine if existing land management plans and fish management plans are sufficient to recover bull trout. We will document declines or increases in abundance of bull trout, and determine variation of life history patterns.
Estimated Time Required to implement proposed amendment
Project would implemented on an annual basis for
three years.
WILDLIFE
Big Horn Sheep Reintroduction
Project Description
Reintroduce California bighorn sheep into historic habitat in the Mutton Mountains, near the northeastern corner of the Warm Springs Reservation.
Estimated Costs
$150,000
Measurable Benefit
This project would re-establish a population of approximately 50 – 100 big horn sheep into historic, native habitat. This measure would provide big horn sheep for cultural use for the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon. This measure would re-introduce a native species back into an ecosystem thereby supporting natural ecosystem functioning.
Estimated Time Required to implement proposed amendment
This measure is estimated to take one to five years to implement and five years of monitoring activities. Two releases of 25 – 30 animals (bighorn) may be needed.
Additional information:
California bighorn sheep were present in the canyons and mountainous areas, including the Mutton Mountains on the Warm Springs Reservation, prior to Euro-American settlement. American Indians used the bighorn as a source of food, clothing and utensils. By the early 1900’s the region’s human population was expanding rapidly and bighorn had been wiped out as a result of competition with domestic livestock, disease brought in by domestic sheep and excessive hunting pressure. Today, due to successful bighorn sheep releases, bighorns occupy portions of the Deschutes River canyon below Shears Falls. The Mutton Mountains, named for the bands of wild sheep that once occupied the area, contain some of the region’s best bighorn habitat.
Wildlife Reintroduction
Project Description
Evaluate the feasibility of reintroducing native wildlife species such as pronghorn and mountain quail into historic habitat on the Warm Springs Reservation. If feasible, develop and implement reintroduction programs.
Estimated Costs
$100,000/yr
Measurable Benefit
This project would re-establish native populations of wildlife into historic habitat. Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon. Species such as mountain quail, pronghorn and other species back into their historic ecosystem thereby supporting natural ecosystem functioning.
Estimated Time Required to implement proposed amendment
This measure is estimated to take five years to implement.
Land Acquisitions
(Benefits wildlife, anadromous and resident fish)
Project Description
Identify and acquire key parcels of land for conservation purposes in the John Day subbasin. Several parcels of land are or may soon be available for purchase by the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon and are key spawning and rearing areas for spring chinook salmon, summer steelhead, bull trout, Pacific lamprey and other species including wildlife.
Estimated Costs
Dependant on parcel of land, may include:
Middle Fork John Day River: 900 acres of river bottom, $2.25 M.
Main stem John Day River: 5000 acres of river front and upland areas, $5-6 M.
Measurable Benefit
This project would provide immediate protection of riparian and upland areas in the John Day River subbasin from grazing and other land management pressures. Would directly protect key spawning and rearing habitat of spring chinook salmon, summer steelhead, bull trout, Pacific lamprey and other species.
Estimated Time Required to implement proposed amendment
Projects would be implemented as quickly as possible
dependant on availability, appraisal timelines, etc.