298 



'Ecokigy shares the tribal goab to resolve cross- 

 tioundary and shaied-resource environmertal issues 

 through Intergovemmental approaches. In o(def lor 

 this to tie successful, tribes must have the stall 

 resources to eflectivelyparticipale in the many torums 

 affecting thera' - Chuck Clarite, Director, Washinglor) 

 Deparlment ol Ecology 



The tribal/state Environmental Memorandum of Understanding of 

 1989 by which the state recognizes tribal sovereignties and pledges to 

 work on a govemment-to-govemment basis to protect, restore and 

 enhance fish and wildlife habitats. 



Tribal participation in the governance and work activities of the Puget 

 Sound Water Quality Authority, created in 1985 to develop a 

 comprehensive plan for protecting the water quality of Puget Sound. 

 Tribes in the Puget Sound basin put restoring the water quality of 

 Puget Sound as a main priority to be achieved through their 

 cooperative efforts in the Coordinated Tribal Water Quality 

 Program. 



"Water is, and will continue to be, ol overwhelming 

 importance to this state. It is absolutely necessary 

 that the tribes be able to participate in the dedsion- 

 neking processes, and we support your efforts to 

 obtain hiving ' - C. Alan PeWbone, Director, 

 Wastiinglon Department ol AgrtcuHure 



• The Puget Sound Estuary Program, established with the 

 designation of Puget Sound as an Estuary of National 

 Signjficeince. The program is co-managed by EPA, the tribes, 

 the Washington [>epartment of Ecology and the Puget Sound 

 Water Quality Authority. The tribes are represented on tfie 

 Authority as co-managers of Puget Sound waters and serve on 

 the estuary program's management committee. 



• The Chelan Agreement of 1990 by which the tribes, the state, 

 environmental groups, agriciilturalists, counties and cities and 

 other water users seek cooperative ways to protect and 

 enhance water resources. Water shortages loom in all parts of 

 Washington and the quantity of water frequently determines 

 the quality of water. 



All of these agreements and programs deal with evolving 

 processes. The tribes and other participants hope that these 

 processes will lead to environments that protect fish, wildlife and 

 other resources, thereby enriching the common quality of life for 

 tribal people and all others. 



Tribes - whether they live on Puget Sound, the Pacific Coast or along the drainages 

 of the Columbia River in eastern Washington — are conunitted to managing water 

 quality on a watershed /ecosystem basis that transcends jurisdictions. This approach 

 commits all jurisdictions to plan together, to act together and in doing so to respect 

 each other's powers and dignities. 



The tribes are not blind to history. Until lately, and only after they went to court to 

 protect their rights, they were often the last jurisdictions invited to manage such 

 common resources as water. On a local level they are still sometimes overlooked in 

 planning that impacts reservations and tribal l<mds, waters, fish, and other resources. 

 The tribes also are aware that not until lately did the federal government begin to see 

 them as significant forces in the battle against water pollution - even though the 

 reservation tribes nationally control an area larger than New England and have 

 sovereign, treaty and court-derived rights to regulate water quality. The tribes in the 

 State of Washington, for example, have management or co-management rights in 

 nearly all of Washington's major watersheds. 



