599 



• Section 6.2D3&4 allows for emergency actions for populations that are badly damaged 

 and decreasing (BDD), and for the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) to develop 

 guidelines for emergency propagation actions. The Shoshone-Bannock Tribes have stated 

 in writing, that following the Integrated System Plan definition, most if not all naturally- 

 spawning populations in the Salmon River are BDD. Between the National 

 Environmental Protection Act, ESA, and the Power Act, any propagation efforts to 

 prevent these populations from reaching the crisis level that the Snake River Sockeye are 

 now in are severely jeopardized. The NMFS has not developed their guidelines, and all 

 production actions, including emergency actions, appear to be on hold (while the salmon 

 continue to dwindle, and while the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes have submitted valid 

 proposals). 



• Section 7.3A1&2 addresses the IPP. The IPP appears to finally be recognized as never 

 having been tried, and the commitment to use it appears to be present. However, the 

 Shoshone-Bannock Tribes are still awaiting contact from the BPA Scoping Groups to 

 come and defend our proposals to them. We wonder how much longer the waiting game 

 will be played. 



The bottom line is that the Power Act does not recognize the role of the fishery managers in the 

 implementation of the Fish and Wildlife Program. The BPA (nor a fishery manager) has been 

 designated as the implemenlor of the Program, which leaves the true implementors of fish 

 protection in a constant struggle to get needed actions effectuated. 



Question 3 : Bonneville asserts that its current financial condition will prevent or delay full 

 implementation of the Council's fish and wildlife program. What measures can 

 Bonneville take to ensure more stable funding for the Council's fish and wildlife 

 program, given its wide swings in revenue? 



Response : 



BPA's entire budget (not just the fish and wildlife portion) needs evaluated to determine if their 

 assertion is accurate. The BPA needs to fully fund the Fish and Wildlife Program. We believe 

 that the Fish and Wildlife Program and the needs of the fish and wildlife resources should drive 

 BPA's budget. We believe that the projects that the tribes have proposed should take precedence 

 over many of those that the BPA currently funds. Also, many of the Program's objectives, as 

 stated above, are too heavily centered on planning and analysis. The BPA funds many actions 

 performed by other federal agencies (e.g.. Forest Service, Bureau of Reclamation), Universities, 

 and private consultants. These funds are not provided to the fishery managers to effectuate the 

 major actions that are required to protect and recover the Salmon. And now, many of the Power 

 Act mitigation responsibilities are fused with recovery of endangered species, which may act to 

 divert funding from the mitigation responsibilities of the Power Act to the recovery actions of 

 the ESA. Congressional funding for holistic, ecosystem-based resource management and 

 recovery of species listed under the ESA is needed. This funding must not sacrifice the 



Shoshone-Bannock Tribes Testimony Page 5 



BPA Task Force Hearings 



