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JULY 26, 2000

A salmon recovery plan unveiled by the federal government was criticized by environmentalists and Antone Minthorn, Chairman of the Confederated Tribes of Umatilla.

"The federal decision not to breach the Lower Snake River dams is a purposeful and conscious decision to cause the extinction of all salmon in the Snake River," Minthorn said of the plan. "Today is a dark day in the history of this great country."

The National Marine Fisheries yesterday announced an inter-agency plan designed to save 12 species of salmon and steelhead trout in the Columbia and Snake Rivers in the Northwest. The fish are protected under the Endangered Species Act.

The plan addresses for "H's" of salmon recovery: habitat, hatcheries, harvest, and hydropower. A total of nine agencies will take part in carrying out the plan, including the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

The governors of the states of Washington, Idaho, Oregon, and Montana also unveiled their own plan this week to save salmon. However, both the federal and state plans lack provisions for dam breaching.

Tribes like the Umatilla, who are signatories to treaties guaranteeing them the right to fish. To the tibes, salmon is a necessary part of life.

Minthorn said he would fight the plan on behalf of tribes.

Get the Story:
Salmon plan silent on Snake dams (The Seattle Post-Intelligencer 7/28)
Federal Agencies Propose Comprehensive Salmon Recovery Strategy for Pacific Northwest (NMFS 7/27 PDF 125k)

Related Stories:
States urge tribes to accept salmon plan (Enviro 7/26)
Dam breaching on hold (Enviro 7/20)
Racial tensions build over dams (The Talking Circle 04/14)
Treaty rights heat up (Tribal Law 04/14)

Relevant Links:
Draft Plans of the Salmon Recovery Effort, NMFS - www.nwr.noaa.gov/1salmon/salmesa/fedrec.htm
The National Marine Fisheries Service Northwest Regional Office - www.nwr.noaa.gov
The Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission - www.critfc.org
The State of Idaho - www.state.id.us
The State of Montana - www.state.mt.us/
The State of Oregon - www.governor.state.or.us
The State of Washington - www.governor.wa.gov/esa
The General Accounting Office - www.gao.gov
Northwest Power Planning Council: www.nwppc.org