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Nez Perce ask Crapo to Help Set Table for Salmon Talks by Rocky Barker Idaho Statesman, October 1, 2011

The Nez Perce tribe is asking Sen. Mike Crapo to help establish a stakeholder's "solution table" to negotiate a long term agreement on salmon and power in the Columbia Basin.

Chairman Brooklyn D. Baptiste wrote Crapo September 26 that the recent decision by U.S. District Judge James Redden striking down yet another biological opinion on the Columbia and Snake dam operations, provides yet another opportunity to work toward a permanent solution to the controversy that has been going on since 1990. The tribe is in a unique position to speak since it had not joined other Columbia tribes in the Accords with the federal agencies, Washington, Montana and Idaho.

But it had reached a deal on water rights with Idaho and its water users over its claims to the Snake River. It still works with the tribes in the Columbia River Intertribal Fish Commission yet stands with Oregon, environmentalists, sporting companies and fishermen as challengers in court to the biological opinion.

Baptiste made it clear if the Obama Administration is willing to accept the status quo and unwilling to push for a long term plan the Nez Perce were prepared to sue again when the time comes. But he recognized that Crapo, as much as any leader in the region recognizes the potential for a truly collaborative solution that satisfies all sides.

"In conjunction with the legal discussions that would be necessary between National Wildlife Federation, the State of Oregon, the Tribe and the United States, the Tribe believes there will be value in establishing a stakeholder "solutions table" to explore all scientifically-sound options and to help develop recommendations to the Administration and Congress that could lead to the recovery of imperiled populations of salmon and steelhead while simultaneously providing new opportunities that accommodate and even enhance the social and economic needs of affected communities and of the region at large," he wrote.

Crapo's office said he has received the letter, as well as letters from other stakeholders with different positions.

"He appreciates the insight of Chairman Baptiste and others, and agrees that long-term litigation is not a long-term policy or solution," wrote Communications Director Lindsay Nothern. "At the same time, the senator believes that there needs to be more support from the various parties before we can move forward with another collaborative effort."

Here is the whole letter:

Honorable Michael D. Crapo
United States Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510-1204
Via First Class Mail and electronic mail
26 September 2011
Re: Issues surrounding_ mainstem hydro litigation (National Wildlife Federation et a/ v. National Marine Fisheries Service, District of Oregon)

Dear Senator Crapo:

I write to you on behalf of the Nez Perce Tribe (Tribe). The Tribe would like to emphasize the timely opportunity that exists to explore- carefully and comprehensively - solutions to the ongoing litigation over the operation of the federal dams in the Columbia River Basin.

The Tribe believes that among the lessons learned in the most recent round of this longstanding litigation are two that should strike all parties, on all sides -- and perhaps collaborative political leaders such as you even more - as particularly significant. First, partial collaborations- operational plans that address the concerns of only a segment of stakeholders in a complex matter of litigation - do not work. In the end, the rule of law is intended to be applied by the courts disinterestedly, even if its application were demanded by only one entity.

Second, the long-term certainty that was the apparent intention ofthe accords signed by many state and tribal sovereigns does not exist. The Oregon District Court's recent ruling concludes that the present plan of operations for the lower Snake River and mainstem hydro system does not satisfy the law, and offers at most the Court's allowance of an interim period of operation, with injunctive spill, while NOAA Fisheries faces again its legal obligations with respect to the listed species.

There may be people and entities that are satisfied with this form of uncertainty. If they were to constitute the prevailing view, the Tribe and, it is confident, the State of Oregon and the fishing and conservation groups that make up the NWF plaintiffs, are prepared to continue their demand for compliance with federal law as long as needed. But the Tribe believes this type of uncertainty will be unacceptable to people and entities that prefer comprehensive problem-solving and long-range planning. They will recognize the simultaneous opportunity presented by this litigation to carefully craft a solution that is more far-reaching, and beneficial to the entire Northwest region, than mere 10-year operational actions and biological opinions.

The Tribe believes that you possess a broader and more long-term view of these issues, and may see the opportunity presented here. The Tribe believes that among the key immediate needs, in order to even begin to take advantage of this situation, is the engagement and understanding of the relevant federal agencies at a Washington, DC level, and that you can assist with that effort.

In conjunction with the legal discussions that would be necessary between NWF, the State of Oregon, the Tribe and the United States, the Tribe believes there will be value in establishing a stakeholder "solutions table" to explore all scientifically-sound options and to help develop recommendations to the Administration and Congress that could lead to the recovery of imperiled populations of salmon and steelhead while simultaneously providing new opportunities that accommodate and even enhance the social and economic needs of affected communities and of the region at large. Again, the Tribe believes that you can assist with this concept.

None of us can predict whether such an exploration would be successful. But continuing the interim approaches of the past should be seen as risky, and the failure to even make an effort at truly long-term planning and problem-solving should be seen as unacceptable . Thank you for your time and consideration of these issues. Please contact me by any means and at any time with thoughts or questions.

Very truly yours,
Brooklyn D. Baptiste
Chairman