157 



Testimony of the NWIFC February 18, 1993 



on Fish & Wildlife Management Page 6 



Centennial Accord and Environmental Memorandum of Understanding 



The Centennial Accord, a historic document of great magnitude negotiated during 

 the state's centennial year of 1989, provides for a tribal/state government-to- 

 government relationship. Such a relationship, a first of its kind in the country, lays 

 out the basic elements of sovereignty and decision making between the parties. 



This document is notable in the context of co-management because it 

 institutionalizes, to a great extent, the relationship between sovereigns. Nowhere is 

 such a relationship more critical than in the area of natural resource management 

 and environmental protection. 



A State-Tribal Environmental Memorandum of Understanding (MOD) was also 

 negotiated between the tribes and the state of Washington. This document 

 identifies tribal and state environmental goals, and suggests a process to resolve 

 environmental issues on a government to government basis. A copy of the 

 Centennial Accord and the Environmental MOU are made available with this 

 testimony. 



Each watershed is unique and requires individual as well as regional focus 



Within given watersheds or basins, however, the specific status of habitat and fish 

 stocks will vary, due to differing terrain, water use and other environmental factors, 

 as well as harvest and other mortality levels. These undeniable facts forced the 

 conclusion that natural resource management must be tailored to suit local 

 situations, as well as regional and global realities. In some areas, fish runs are 

 strong and are comprised in large measure of wild stock. In others, wild stocks or 

 their habitat have been decimated, and habitat and enhancement efforts are 

 needed. 



There have been those who have tried to point the finger at one industry or another, 

 or one cause or another, for declines in some fish runs. In some watersheds the 

 major causes are obvious, such as the Elwha River where dams have totally 

 blocked fish passage into headwaters that originate in the Olympic National Park. 

 But, for the most part, a multitude of causes contribute to fish management 

 problems, and thus the concept of comprehensive management is appropriate. It is 

 worth mentioning, incidently, that, given available habitat, most fish runs in the 

 Puget Sound and coastal regions are in relatively good condition, and that many of 

 these rivers support healthy percentages of wild fish. We credit the comprehensive, 

 cooperative management approach driven by the U.S. v. Washington decision for 

 this condition. 



68-141 - 93 - 6 



