The Hoopa Valley Tribe and the Yurok Tribe are supporting Humboldt County's request for water that was promised by an act of Congress in 1955.

The tribes say the county needs the water to help fish in the Trinity River. The county also says development and agricultural use has increased in the last half-century.

"Humboldt County has this water -- it's been 60 years and they've never been given the water they're entitled to,” Hoopa Tribe fisheries communications coordinator Allie Hostler told The Contra Costa Times.

The Bush administration said the county wasn't entitled to the water. The tribes and the county will meet with the Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Mike Conner on September 16 in hopes of changing course.

Get the Story:
Tribes join county's bid for Trinity water; meeting with feds in September may prove critical to securing region's share (The Eureka Times-Standard 8/31)