An Amazing and Inspiring Collaborative Fishery on the Columbia River between First Nations, a Public Utility, and Bonneville Power Administration

Recently, an amazing display of partnership between First Nations, the Washington State government, and private industry has resulted in an amazing accomplishment for the furthering of salmon populations. Since 1955, the Chief Joseph Dam on the upper Columbia River has completely blocked salmon migration. The many harmful effects of dams including reducing dissolved oxygen gases, reducing sediment flow, and blocking salmon transport have greatly affected the way salmon travel this part of the Columbia River for many years- resulting in negative impacts on the salmon population. Fortunately, the First Nation called “The Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation,” Grant County Public Utilities District, and Bonneville Power Administration, are working together to establish a salmon hatchery on the upper Columbia.

Salmon have always been an integral part of the First Nations’ for reasons of tradition, culture, and sustenance. It is important to practice sustainable salmon management so that First Nations’ can enjoy the salmon fishing rights they were granted through treaties with European settlers in the late 1700’s to 1800’s. Salmon protection is also important to numerous stakeholders, including the U.S. government, fisherman, non-governmental organizations, utility companies, artists, recreationists, and many more. For this reason, a new salmon hatchery on the Columbia will benefit many people for many years.

Grant Public Utilities District will fund approximately 1/5 of the $40 million hatchery, with the Bonneville Power Administration financing most of the rest of the project. The “Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation” will manage and operate the hatchery. This hatchery will be a wonderful project, raising 1.9 million summer Chinook and 900,000 spring Chinook every year. I think it is wonderful that 3 organizations with different interests on many topics could come together and establish a very worthwhile project for the region, the fishing industry, and the First Nations of the Northwest.

Sources:

The Wenatchee World. November 16. http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2010/nov/16/grant-pud-to-help-pay-for-chief-joseph-hatchery/

The Wenatchee World. May 13. http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2010/may/13/40-million-chief-joseph-hatchery-wins-major/

The Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation Website. http://nrd.colvilletribes.com/

-Christina Heinlen