597 



Question 2 : Is implementation of the Strategy for Salmon on track for timely completion? 

 How well are federal and state agencies coordinating their activities with each 

 other and with the NPPC to achieve timely completion? 



Response : 



There are many high priority activities called for in the Strategy. These priorities require 

 personnel resources beyond the, capacity of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes. Without adequate 

 funding to provide new personnel, current staff are only able to be involved peripherally. The 

 geographic location of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes makes us farther away from the Portland 

 hub than any other party. Without relentless contact attempts, our staff can be easily left out 

 of almost all activities. There are rarely contacts to the Tribes giving heads-up notifications. 

 The Shoshone-Bannock Tribes, to the best of our knowledge, have never been contacted 

 regarding some fundamental activities addressed in the Strategy. For example: 



• Section 2.3, calls for development of recommendations for rebuilding plans by the 

 fishery managers, with BPA funding for travel and participation. The Shoshone-Bannock 

 Tribes are fishery managers, yet have not been contacted. 



• Section 3.3A8, calls for the establishment of a Snake River Anadromous Fish Water 

 Management Office to facilitate the use of water from the Snake River Basin, in 

 cooperation with Indian tribes. We have yet to be contacted. 



• Section 3.6C1, calls for Idaho, Oregon, Washington, and the Bureau of Reclamation 

 (BR) to organize a water use advisory committee to recommend options to secure one 

 million acre-feet of additional water from the Snake River Basin. Membership is 

 supposed to include tribal interests, and we have yet to be contacted. 



• Section 5.1A&B, calls for development and reevaluation of management goals and 

 spawning escapement objectives. The Shoshone-Bannock Tribes have called for these 

 actions under US v Oregon , which is the forum these activities are just now beginning 

 to be addressed. 



• The Section 5.2 statements concerning harvest rates and regimes fall on deaf ears. The 

 Shoshone-Bannock Tribes have attempted intensive actions to relocate mainstem 

 Columbia River mixed-stock harvest (except for minimal Treaty ceremonial harvest) into 

 the tributaries that can support such harvest because of the severe inequity that currently 

 exists. For example, in 1993, approximately 1,(X)0 Snake River wild spring/summer 

 Chinook were harvested in the Columbia River mainstem fisheries. The Shoshone- 

 Bannock Tribes currently have little or no opportunity for harvest of these same fish if 

 the Tribes abide by the ESA. If the exercise of the Priority Treaty Rights of the 

 Shoshone- Bannock Tribes are not allowed, then no other harvest should be allowed. The 

 Shoshone-Bannock Tribes' salmon hunts have been severely jeopardized, yet other major 



Shoshone-Bannock Tribes Testimony Poge 3 



BPA Task Force Hearings 



