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Executive Summary: 



To address water quality issues affecting their reservation and off-reservation re- 

 sources, the federally recognized tribes in Washington state have developed the 

 Coordinated Tribal Water Quality Progrtun. The program, currently in Stage D of 

 development, will address water quality issues through a cooperative watershed 

 approach. 



Western Washington tribes that took part in the program's development are the 

 Chehalis, Hoh, Jamestown S'Klallam, Lower Elwha Klallam, Lummi, Makah, 

 Muckieshoot, Nisqucilly, Nooksack, Port Gamble S'Klallam, Puyallup, Quileute, 

 Quinault, Sauk-Suiattle, Shoalwater Bay, Skokomish, Squaxin Island, Stillaguamish, 

 Suquamish, Swinomish, Tulalip and Upper Skagit. All of these tribes, except for the 

 Chehalis, Shoalwater Bay cind Hoh, cu« members of the Northwest Inditin Fisheries 

 Commission. Eastern Washington tribes that took part in developing the program are 

 the Colville, Kedispel, Spokane cind Yakima. Together these tribes have recognized 

 management and co-management rights that extend to nearly all of the main water- 

 sheds and marine waters in Washington state. 



The need for new approaches to water quality problems stems from a simple fact: 

 Water pollution threatens survival of the fish, wildlife and other natural resources on 

 which the tribes depend, endjingering the economic and cultural core of tribeil life. 

 The tribes feel these issues must be resolved cooperatively and in partnership with 



federal, state and local governments rather than 



through litigation. 



The tnbes in Washington state are dependent on clean water for the 

 natural resources that are the basis of our cultural, economic arxj spiritual 

 health. The Coordinated Trita! Water Quality Program represents our tiest 

 efforts to develop a statewide tribal water quality program that will allow us 

 to successfully address the many water quality problems tftat we confront' 

 - Bll Frank, Jr., Chairman, Northwest Indian Fisheries Comnrission 



The Coordinated Tribal Water Quality Program is 

 built upon four flexible, interconnected stages that are 

 driven by funding, not by time. The stages do not 

 imply that each tribe would arrive simultaneously at 

 the same point in program development. That would 

 be impossible because of differences in tribal sizes, 

 needs 2ind water quality problems. The stages do, however, outline what the tribes 

 think can be accomplished through planned effort, coordinated budgeting, inter- 

 governmental goodwill, and appropriate funding. A full discussion of the staging 

 within the Coordinated Tribal Wa^er Quality Program begins on page 17. 



Stage 1 consisted of program development that was conducted on the basis of inter- 

 views with tribeil policy makers and technioil staff at each federally recognized tribe 

 in the state. These interviews: 



• Outlined water quality issues eiffecting reservation and off-reservation 

 waters; 



• Identified tribal programs currently in place to address water 

 quality issues; 



• Identified actions needed to combat water qu<>lity issues; and 



• Determined change in relations with other governments that could 

 lead to comprehensive, coordinated and cooperative efforts to address 

 water quality issues. 



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