 | RESCAT-2012-009-00 | Proposal Version 1 | Existing Project | Pending BPA Response | 2012-009-00 | Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribe Regional Coordination | Primary Goal of Project - The primary goal and needed purpose of this project is to maintain and enhance the functions of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Reservation (CSKT) related to regional coordination capability and implementation.
Importance of Project - The CSKT is a federally recognized Indian Nation under the 1855 Hellgate Treaty. It is comprised of the Bitterroot Salish, the Pend d’Oreille and the Kootenai tribes. The CSKT Reservation is comprised of 1.317 million acres in northwest Montana, but prior to the Treaty the tribes lived in the territory now known as western Montana, parts of Idaho, British Columbia and Wyoming. This aboriginal territory exceeded 20 million acres at the time of the Treaty. This comprises a significant and important portion of the Columbia River Basin.
The 1855 Hellgate Treaty included provisions that ceded tribal lands to the U.S. government in exchange for continued or reserved rights to fish, wildlife, water, cultural and other important resources. The CSKT is a sovereign government with management capability and regulatory authority over these resources. The CSKT Natural Resources Department has programs that address Environmental Protection; Fish, Wildlife, Recreation and Conservation; and Water Management. The CSKT Cultural Resources program is charged with identifying, evaluating, and protecting cultural, historic and archaeological resources and regulating activities when they may result in changes in the character or use of such cultural resources. Each of these programs maintain and implement plans and programs addressing resources based on the CSKT’s management authority and rights within its’ ceded lands. These authorities are based on federal law, Tribal resolution, and agreements with other state and federal resource management agencies.
This project will provide for continuing the CSKT’s involvement in regionally important processes and programs that address these resources. In 2011, the CSKT withdrew membership from the CBFWA to protect its’ rights, interests, and sovereignty. With the CBFWA being one of the focal regional coordination entities, it is necessary for the CSKT to continue coordination efforts in the absence of CBFWA membership and support. This involvement includes coordination and communication with the Northwest Power and Conservation Council (NPCC), Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), regional states and tribes that are not members of the Columbia Basin Fish and Wildlife Authority (CBFWA), and the CBFWA and its’ members. This is particularly important to the implementation of the NPCC Program and the Northwest Power Planning and Conservation Act of 1980.
The results of this project will be effective and efficient coordination between the CSKT and other entities involved in the protection, mitigation, enhancement and management of the resources noted above. Specifically, it is expected this will improve and enhance exchanging information, finding consensus on difficult issues, the quality of decision-making, and the process of informing other regional decision-makers. Quantitative benefits cannot be readily estimated for these results, but it has been demonstrated that effective and efficient coordination provides for cost savings in highly controversial situations such as the Columbia River Basin that have conflicting rights and interests among a multitude of sovereigns and stakeholders..
How the Work will be Accomplished – Regional coordination has two aspects that are pertinent to this project. First, coordination is a function that can be accomplished using phone calls, emails, postal services, and face-to-face meetings and briefings. Coordination also includes the instrument used to coordinate which includes oral communication and written materials. It is anticipated that all of these in various combinations will be used to accomplish this project. Second, the regional nature of this coordination will require travel at times to accomplish the work.
Location of Work – Project work will occur at all locations where coordination is necessary which includes virtually all of the Columbia River Basin. In particular, it is anticipated that this project will focus on needed coordination between the CSKT reservation in western Montana and Portland, Oregon where the headquarters of the NPCC, BPA, CBFWA, and other organizations requiring coordination are located. Regardless, project activities will occur in various locations in Montana, Idaho, Washington, Oregon and other states and locations in Canada depending on the organizations involved and topic of the coordination.
Duration of Work – Regional coordination is an activity that will be required in perpetuity. Protection, mitigation, enhancement and management of the resources addressed by this project are not expected to cease and regional coordination among sovereigns and stakeholders will be needed to effectively and efficiently accomplish these functions.
Who will do Work – Regional coordination needs to occur at the policy and technical levels. The CSKT expects Tribal Council members and other policy representatives to be involved in this work. In addition, technical representatives of the CSKT will be involved in regional coordination as needed. Individuals doing this work are expected to be located mostly in western Montana and Portland, Oregon.
Monitoring the Work – An annual progress report will be provided in a timely manner to BPA for this project. It will summarize the work done during the previous year including accomplishments, work anticipated in the coming year, budget/scope status, as well as other contractually required topics. | Lynn DuCharme | | | 11/17/2011 | 03/05/2014 | Lynn DuCharme | Parametrix Inc., Salish and Kootenai Confederated Tribes | Programmatic | None | Resident Fish, Regional Coordination, and Data Management Category Review | Resident Fish, Regional Coordination, and Data Management Categorical Review | BiOp |
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