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Yakama Nation Tribal Leaders Sign Agreements with Grant PUD
for Protection of Salmon
EPHRATA, WA – Yakama Nation tribal leaders today signed on to a comprehensive and long-term adaptive management program for the protection, mitigation and enhancement of salmon, steelhead and other species affected by Grant County PUD’s Priest Rapids Project. The Priest Rapids Project includes both Wanapum and Priest Rapids dams on the Columbia River in central Washington state.
“We are honored that Yakama Nation tribal leaders traveled to Ephrata to formalize these important agreements,” said Randy Allred, Grant PUD commission president. “Protection of natural resources, including fish populations, is important to Grant PUD. We are committed to working with the Yakamas and the other government and tribal parties to protect these species now and during our next license term.”
The comprehensive Salmon and Steelhead Agreement addresses and provides a framework for resolving all issues between Grant PUD and other signatories related to spring, summer and fall Chinook Salmon, Steelhead, Sockeye Salmon and Coho Salmon in connection with the utility’s existing and anticipated new license for the Priest Rapids Project. The parties to the agreements will coordinate the implementation of the adaptive management program contained in this agreement through the Priest Rapids Coordinating Committee.
Five representatives from the Yakama Nation were present during Monday’s presentation. “The protection of these natural resources is of paramount importance to the Yakama Nation”, says Phillip Olney, Chairman of the Yakama Nation General Council, “We look forward to resolving other issues related to the re-licensing of the dams, and see this as a step in the right direction.”
The Settlement Agreement is the third and final piece of the Priest Rapids Project Salmon and Steelhead Protection Program. It follows the NOAA Fisheries Biological Opinion for the Project, issued in May 2004, and the successful Hanford Reach Fall Chinook Protection Program Agreement signed in 2004.
Working in conjunction with the Salmon and Steelhead Settlement Agreement, the Hanford Reach Fall Chinook Protection Program agreement provides greater guarantees on timing of water delivery, provides new weekend protection flows and limits flow fluctuations for juvenile fall Chinook rearing in the Hanford Reach.
The Yakama Nation joins with Grant PUD, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, NOAA Fisheries, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation in support of these agreements.
“Grant PUD looks forward to working with the Yakama in implementing the terms of this agreement,” said Tim Culbertson, Grant PUD general manager. “We continue to work collaboratively with fish agencies, other dam operators, tribes and other interests to design programs and make decisions that are scientifically founded. “
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