Analysis on Federal Ruling Forcing Culvert Repair -NWIFC

Posted on April 3, 2013 by Al B.

Want to more fully understand last Friday’s landmark ruling that forces the State to accelerate it’s timetable for replacing fish-blocking culverts? Here’s a good place to start: Billy Frank Jr and Ron Allen comment for the NW Indian Fisheries Commission.

OLYMPIA – The state of Washington must fix fish-blocking culverts under state-owned roads because they violate tribal treaty rights, federal Judge Ricardo Martinez ruled on Friday, March 29.

“This is a historic day,” said Billy Frank Jr., Nisqually tribal member and chairman of the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission. “This ruling isn’t only good for the resource, but for all of us who live here. It will result in more salmon for everyone. This is a great victory for all who have worked so hard to recover wild salmon.”

Read the whole article at:
http://nwifc.org/2013/04/federal-court-upholds-tribal-treaty-rights-in-culvert-case/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+nwifc+%28NWIFC+News%29&utm_content=Google+Feedfetcher

Roundup of other culvert coverage:
http://nwifc.org/2013/04/roundup-of-culvert-case-coverage/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+nwifc+%28NWIFC+News%29&utm_content=Google+Feedfetcher

Filed under: Culvert Replacement | Tagged: , , | Leave a Comment »

Tribes waiting for answer to key Whatcom water rights question – Bellingham Herald

Posted on March 22, 2013 by Al B.

What affects one Tribe affects them all. This story is relevant because if the Tribes can sue to and come to an agreement on how much water is “enough” in these rivers, it will set precedent for all rivers throughout the Salish Sea. Might be the next “big thing” that makes the WRIA debate mild in comparison. As well it should, as we cannot assume that we can take unlimited water from the watersheds in a time of climate warming. There just won’t be the snow pack to support this.

Local Indian tribes sought federal legal action to clarify critical Whatcom County water rights issues more than 18 months ago, but so far there has been no response. The tribes contend that their fishing rights, recognized by the federal courts based on the Point Elliott Treaty of 1855, also contain a guarantee of Nooksack River water that is abundant enough and clean enough to support the salmon that spawn in the river and the shellfish in the tidelands that can be harmed by pollution. Local governments don’t dispute that, but years of negotiations have failed to reach agreement on how much water must be left in the river and its many tributaries to maintain tribal fisheries. John Stark reports.

http://www.bellinghamherald.com/2013/03/22/2931896/tribes-still-waiting-for-answer.html

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Tribes: Hard-won fishing rights here worthless without fish

Posted on January 7, 2013 by Al B.

The Tribes are saying what is not politically acceptable to many. That the work to save the salmon here in Washington State is too little, maybe too late. More protection is needed. Likely not only in the watersheds, which is the thrust of this article, but out at sea as well. For those of us spending hundreds of volunteer hours to try and help restore this natural treasure, it is gratifying that someone is willing to say the impolite thing. That the emperors clothes might not be there. Can we even begin to think of calling for a 10 year fishing ban, both in the Straits, but more importantly out at sea? Would that help? It’s a idea I have heard from old time white fishermen who made a living off salmon prior to Boldt, tribal fishermen, scientists working on the problem, and environmentalists.

Here’s the Tribes’ point of view, as articulated by Billie Frank, Jr.

Lynda Mapes reports.

http://seattletimes.com/html/othersports/2020068220_fish06m.html

Filed under: Puget Sound | Tagged: , | Leave a Comment »

Treaty Tribes release the State of Our Watersheds Report – NW Indian Fisheries Commission

Posted on September 22, 2012 by Al B.

If you are into protecting the environment, here’s a good read. In some ways, a good compliment to the Puget Sound Partnership’s “State of the Sound” report

Ongoing damage and destruction of salmon habitat is resulting in the steady decline of salmon populations across western Washington, leading to the failure of salmon recovery and threatening tribal treaty rights, according to a report released today by the treaty Indian tribes.

http://nwifc.org/2012/09/treaty-tribes-release-the-state-of-our-watersheds-report/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+nwifc+%28NWIFC+News%29&utm_content=Google+Feedfetcher

Filed under: Puget Sound | Tagged: , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Report: No conclusive blame of humans for canal oxygen levels – Kitsap Sun

Posted on September 18, 2012 by Al B.

Human sources of nitrogen no doubt contribute to low-oxygen problems in Southern Hood Canal, but federal and state officials say they will need more precise information before taking action under the Clean Water Act. Other actions to reduce pollution and nutrients in Hood Canal — some voluntary and some regulatory — remain under discussion by the Hood Canal Coordinating Council, which includes county and tribal officials. A new report by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Washington Department of Ecology concludes that existing studies fail to show conclusively that nitrogen from septic systems, fertilizers and other human sources have caused Hood Canal’s oxygen levels to drop by 0.2 milligrams per liter — the threshold for legal enforcement. Chris Dunagan reports.

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2012/sep/17/natural-trends-noted-in-hood-canal-oxygen-levels/http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2012/sep/17/natural-trends-noted-in-hood-canal-oxygen-levels/

Filed under: Puget Sound | Tagged: , , , , , | 2 Comments »

Restoration Grants Coordinator Job for Nooksack Tribe

Posted on March 2, 2012 by Al B.

Job Title: Restoration Grants Coordinator

Department: Natural Resources

Reports To: Habitat Program Manager

Type: Full Time

Position Opens: 2-22-12 Position Closes: 3-7-12

JOB SUMMARY:

This position is responsible for managing the diverse array of grants that support the Tribe’s watershed restoration program. Job duties include: (1) grant proposal writing; (2) grant management, including budget oversight, project management and reporting; (3) preparation of permit applications and working with permitting agencies to secure permits, and (4) preparing and overseeing contracts. This position will work in partnership with the Department’s Watershed Restoration Coordinators to ensure successful and timely implementation of restoration projects.

MAJOR TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIESConfused smile

See job description link below.

For the full job description, including education and experience requirements, please visit http://nooksackindiantribe.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Restoration-Grant-Coordinator1.pdf. 

To apply: Obtain an employment application at http://nooksackindiantribe.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Application-for-Employment.pdf. Mail application, and resume to 5016 Deming Road, Deming, WA 98244 or fax to 360-592- 2125. Application materials must be received in Human Resources no later than 5:00 pm on the closing date to be considered for this position.

Filed under: Around the Sound, First Nations, Hood Canal, Jobs, Nooksack, People | Tagged: , , , | Leave a Comment »

What’s good for Orca is good for fishermen – Billy Frank

Posted on April 7, 2011 by Al B.

A great opinion piece by Billy Frank Jr. the chairman of the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission. He makes some excellent points. Read the whole piece, it’s pretty short.

Tribes and orcas have a lot in common. Together, we have always depended on the salmon for food.

The last 100 years have been hard on the tribes, the orcas and the salmon. Habitat loss and damage has pushed some salmon populations to the edge of extinction, threatening the orcas, tribal cultures and our treaty rights.

But instead of looking at the main causes for a weak local population of orcas, the federal government is asking us yet again to reconsider how we fish. We just spent several years working with our salmon co-managers to develop a five-year plan to manage our Puget Sound chinook fisheries in light of the recovery needs for fish listed under the federal Endangered Species Act.

Now, a half-step away from final approval, the federal government is asking us to go back to the drawing board and quickly produce a new two-year harvest plan that addresses how our fisheries might affect orca populations.

The rest of the story is at
http://nwifc.org/2011/04/whats-good-for-orca-is-good-for-fishermen/

Filed under: Around the Sound, First Nations | Tagged: , , , | Leave a Comment »

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