Recommendation 23
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Shoshone-Paiute Tribes
Fish and Wildlife Program Amendments to
Northwest Power Act

The Shoshone-Paiute Tribes agree with the recommendations from the Columbia Basin Fish and Wildlife Authority (CBFWA) Program Amendments and would like to see these amendments incorporated into the Act.

Along with the CBFWA amendments the Shoshone-Paiute Tribes request that the following amendments also be incorporated into the Act.
Basin-wide

  1. Accord highest priority for resident fish projects to basins above blocked areas.
  2. Accord highest priority for wildlife projects to basins above blocked areas.
  3. Mitigate activities for societal and tribal losses associated with the extirpation of anadromous and resident fish resources will be conducted in blocked areas. These mitigation activities are in addition to construction, operation, and losses suffered in the blocked areas.
  4. In the blocked areas, investigate the feasibility of anadromous fish passage.
  5. Work with Bonneville Power Administration, Idaho Power Corporation, Corps of Engineers, and the Bureau of Reclamation to take a realistic look at anadromous fish passage over Hells Canyon Complex, CJ Strike, and other barriers in the Snake River basin. In doing this, over 30% of the original anadromous fish spawning areas would be opened back up.
  6. Develop a fair and standard practice of financial equity among fish and wildlife managers in the basin.
  7. Afford highest priority in areas of the basin affected by mining activities.
  8. Substitution project may and can occur in the vicinity of anadromous fish extirpation.
  9. Protect high quality native habitat and attempt to restore potential habitat to benefit fish and wildlife.
  10. Give highest priority to address special wildlife losses in areas that formerly had salmon and steelhead runs that were extirpated by hydroelectric projects.
  11. Accord highest priority to areas that are being managed for native species (resident, wildlife, anadromous), except in the case of substitution in a closed system.
  12. Mitigate for lost resident fish populations due to the loss of ecological functions and relationships as a result of lost anadromous fish resources in the blocked areas.
  13. Mitigate for past losses of anadromous in areas where anadromous fish have been extirpated, until the time that anadromous fish return these areas.
  14. Mitigate for anadromous fish losses through the use of the hatchery system in the extirpated areas.
  15. Fund wildlife projects for losses incurred in the blocked areas.
  16. Refine the way that funding is distributed between the three caucuses (RFC, WMC, AFC).
  17. Refine funding distribution between upriver and downriver protection, mitigation, and enhancement in a fair and equitable manner.
  18. Develop and fund fish and wildlife mitigation funds, especially in blocked areas for future protection, mitigation and enhancement.
  19. Mitigate for lost cultural resources due to the construction and operation of the Federal Hydro Power system.
  20. Mitigate for lost botanical resources due to the construction and operation of the Federal Hydro Power system.
  21. Accept into the Power Act the "Vision" of the Shoshone-Paiute Tribes "To once again have a healthy ecosystem that supports and protects all species of fish in wildlife, including anadromous fish, in all areas of the basin especially the blocked areas".
  22. Adopt into the Power Act the subbasin plan for the Owyhee River and Bruneau River Basins.
  23. Adopt into the Power Act the management plan of the Shoshone-Paiute Tribes.
  24. Mitigate in full for the wildlife losses incurred in blocked areas due to the loss of anadromous fish.
  25. Ensure the Duck Valley Indian Reservation receives settlement for primary wildlife losses, as do eleven (11) other Tribes in the Columbia Basin.
  26. In jointly funded projects, participating entities will share mitigation credits proportional to their funding amount.
  27. In wildlife land acquisitions, focus on critical habitats, particularly wetlands, access to waterways, and lands adjacent to existing wildlife management areas, as well as ceded or reservation lands.
  28. Compensation must be based on historical populations, potential harvest of fish and wildlife, as well as loss of habitat and species of fish and wildlife, not actual current populations of species present.
  29. Make "all" entities responsible for expenses incurred for reduction of, and extirpation of native species of fish and wildlife, (ie. Introduced exotic species that have caused genetic introgression of native species.
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