November 2011 CUJ - Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian ...

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Lamprey at Three-MileContinued from Page 31reaches the Umatilla River as the lampreynavigate The Dalles and John Day dams,and enter other tributaries (John Day,Hood, Deschutes, Klickitat, Wind Riverrivers, and Herman Creek).“We’re losing 50 percent at everydam,” Jackson said.However, without proper monitoring,it’s hard to say exactly how many arereaching the Umatilla.“I’d like to say the adult returns arefrom our translocation program, but it’sdifficult to say without seeing an adultthat was tagged in the Umatilla River asa juvenile ,” Jackson said. “We’re talkingabout PIT (Passive Intergrated Transponder)tagging juveniles in the Umatilla andif we get them back as adults then we cansay they were reared in the Umatilla.”Current knowledge lends to the ideathat lamprey are panmiptic in nature,and may not return to their natal streamlike salmon.Although they can’t say whether or notthe returning adults were progeny of theUmatilla from released adults (annuallyas many as 600 to as few as 68, dependingon the number gathered from lowermainstem dams) in the headwaters overthe last 11 years, the Confederated Tribescan point with “excitement” to this year’sreturn, which is eight times higher thanlast year’s count of 17 adults.A number of positive factors can beconsidered, Jackson said, not the least ofwhich is higher flows in the lower threemiles of the Umatilla River. That sectionof the river often dries up between lateJune and October, just before and justafter the peak migration of lamprey,which cross over the John Day Dam in aJuly-to-August window.To remedy that low-water problem,BPA has funded baseline flows of about75 cfs through the federal Umatilla BasinProject, which exchanges water from theColumbia River for farmers who leavethe same amount in the Umatilla for fishduring the spring growing season.Jackson believes that extra water haspushed out into the Columbia juvenilelamprey pheromones (a chemicalsubstance that triggers migration andreproduction) that attract adult lampreymoving up the Columbia.Prior to 2006, those pheromoneswere stopped at Three Mile before theadditional BPA-funded flows duringthat peak adult migration period. Oncethe adults entered the Umatilla Riverthey also were stopped at Three Mile, aconcrete diversion built by the federalgovernment to irrigate lands in the early1900s, which incidentally caused expirationof salmon.But now the new lamprey ladder onthe east side of the river is giving Tribeshope that lamprey can make a comeback.Built with funding from BPA’s 10-yearAccords Project Funding and a U.S. Fishand Wildlife Service wildlife grant, thepilot lamprey ladder project is designedto see if lamprey can better reach watersabove diversion dams, in this case ThreeMile Falls Dam. Prior to the lamprey ladder,the fish – sometimes called eels – hadto use outdated salmon bypass ladders orThis year, for an unknown reason, the numberof adult lamprey returning to the Columbia Riveris higher than in recent years.suck their way up and over about 20 feetof concrete to the other side.“Of the 138 we counted, 115 used thenew ladder and 23 used the existingsalmon fish way or climbed the dam,”Jackson said.The fish ladder, with sharp 90 degreecorners, was not suited to lamprey, whichrely on the suction of their mouths toreach the waters above Three Mile FallsDam. The new ladder has rounded edgeswith a 45 degree climb so lamprey cankeep their attachment up and over thestructure. Furthermore, the ladder isequipped with devices to monitor lampreypassage.Although the value of the fish hasbeen generally dismissed, the adaptablelamprey is a traditional and ceremonialfood for Tribes throughout the region.“The Tribes have a vested interestbecause lampreys are culturally significant,”Jackson said. “They are a prizedfish to us.”For years, Jackson said, state and federalagencies have given short shrift tolamprey in favor of efforts to protect andrestore salmon and steelhead listed on theEndangered Species List. Historically, theonly use for lamprey has been as bait forsturgeon or as fish meal to feed youngfry in fish farms. In the 1930s metrictons were collected on barges from theWillamette, then ground into fish meal.Jackson is hopeful that anecdotalresults from places like Three Mile andsubsequent research and monitoringwill give lamprey a chance to continue ahistoric lifecycle that as adapted throughthe ice age, eons of volcanic disruption,even the Missouri Floods that created theColumbia River system.“Salmon have been around for 10 to13 million years. Fossil records showthat lamprey have been on earth for 530million years, since before the Jurassic Period,”Jackson said, noting that a CBFWA“white paper” is to be published soonthat will provide the research behind thehistoric claim.“Lamprey predate dinosaurs,” Jacksonsaid. “These critters are really old and itbothers me to think that in my lifetimethey could potentially go extinct. It’s notacceptable; it’s unfathomable to thinkthey’ve been around that long and couldbe gone within my lifetime.”Q vote Qnov. 15Q vote QJohn Barkley - BOT Treasurer• Experienced• Qualified• Integrity• Dedicated• Protect, Exercise1855 Treaty Rights• Former General Council Chairman• Tribal Water Commission - 12 yearsas Vice-ChairmanServed on:• TERO Commission• Land Acquisition Committee• Economic & Community DevelopmentComittee• Constitution Review CommitteeAs former Tribal Gaming Manager, Gaming Consultant, 12 years of experience with TERO, a parent of an NCS student, andexperience in Tribal politics, I intend to build on that experience to realize a long forthcomingTribal water rights settlement, a new school, clinic, new housing and community development projects that serve CTUIRmembers and reservation residents. Your vote Nov. 15 is critical for a new direction and opportunties for our future.Paid political ad50 Confederated Umatilla JournalNovember 2011
Louie DickContinued from Page 2Program, Dick had a “special skill in communicatingtraditional values, such as Indian Law (Tamunwit)and First Foods to both Indian and non-Indian people.For Indians, his actions strongly influenced the FirstFoods-based Department of Natural Resources missionstatements and program actions that are implementedtoday. For non-Indians, his knack for telling stories andgiving examples greatly increased their understandingand respect of Indian ways and values.”John Barkley, who also reveres water, said Dick wasan inspiration.“He brought a significant traditional perspective thatreflected a reverence and humility to use and managewater with diligence and sensitivity for all creaturesof life,” Barkley said. “I respected hiswords, compassion and devotion to thissacred resource and will truly miss him.”Dick was respected everywhere hewent and not just for his stance on water.Longtime friend Ron Pond said agood example of the people’s respectwas when Chief Raymond Burke, beforehe died, asked the community who theythought should serve as a chief. Thenames of Dick and Pond were amongfour put up for consideration.Two others sought chieftainships andDick and Pond took it no further.Dick also was chosen to take a whipman’s role but the elder who recommendedhim, Winnie Burke, passedaway and out of respect Dick didn’t takethe position.“That goes to show that people hadrespect for him and his family background– being from a warrior’s family,the Red Elks on his mother’s side and the Squeoch’sfamily on his father’s side.”Marcus Luke knew Dick from the Longhouse andrespected his ways.“He always expressed traditional values at theLonghouse in our language, which is needed today.To some he was stern, but ones who had traditionalteachings understood.”People understood Dick’s vision for a sustainable,healthy world. He expressed it in many ways, notthe least of which was in words that will live longafter his death:“Water is life. Without water there is no life.”Editor’s Note: Louie Dick’s obituary appears on page 10.Above, Louie Dick was involved in sports as a youngster. At right, he participatedfor many years in the annual Happy Canyon Pageant at the Pendleton Round-Up.Oregon Water Quality standardsContinued from Page 17Legislature on the status of human healthtoxics rulemaking, including specific informationon the use of variances.EPA’s decision this week follows therecommendation of the Oregon EnvironmentalQuality Commission, whichadopted the new water quality standardsin August. The Oregon EQC sets policybased on recommendations from theOregon (DEQ).At the urging of the Umatilla Tribes,Oregon DEQ arrived at the higher fishconsumption rate after an extensive reviewof relevant fish consumption studiesby a panel of health professionals andthrough public workshops and commentperiods that spanned several years.McLarren praised the work of theOregon DEQ and the Umatilla Tribesfor “conducting a thoughtful public dialoguewith tribal governments, citizens,municipalities, industry and others tounderstand the issues associated withincreasing the fish consumption rate usedin your water quality standards.”EPA’s approval is testament to years ofcollaborative work, Pedersen said.“EPA’s decision endorses the years ofhard work by the state and the UmatillaTribe,” Pedersen said. “The standardallows us to move forward as Oregondecides how best to reduce toxics in collaborationand in a thoughtful way toimprove water so fish are safe and thepeople who eat fish are safe.”Pedersen said that without the influenceof the Umatilla Tribes, DEQ probablywould not have pushed as hard fornew human health criteria.“Without their leadership the taskwould have been a lot harder than itwas,” he said. “I don’t think we wouldhave pushed as hard without the tribalcomponent. Through collaboration, thetribes were instrumental in what weended up getting.”It was a long struggle arriving at thenew Water Quality Standards.In August, the Oregon EQC approvedthe standards by a 4-1 margin, with ViceChair Ken Williamson saying the standards“provide greater protections forsensitive populations. As a society weneed to provide these protections. We aremoving in the right direction.”The new rules put limits on 104 toxicpollutants (48 non-carcinogens and 56carcinogens) based on studies that havedocumented that certain populations,including Native Americans, eat morefish than the general population in theUnited States, and that toxics found infish from Oregon waterways cause cancer,and effect immune, reproductive andnervous systems.Prior to its efforts to develop these newrevisions, DEQ developed and adoptedrules in 2004. DEQ based the criteria forthe 2004 rules on EPA’s recommendedcriteria at the time, which used an assumed17.5 grams (that cracker-sizeportion) for the general population perday fish consumption rate.At the time (2004) that Oregon approvedthose standards, the UmatillaTribes expressed concerns to EPA thatthe standards were not protective enoughfor high fish consumers and did not meetEPA’s guidance that local data be used tomake decisions on criteria.In 2006, DEQ, EPA and the UmatillaTribes reached an agreement to worktogether collaboratively to revise the fishconsumption rate.In what would be a five-year process, DEQbegan re-evaluating its water quality standards,holding seven workshops around the state toshare information and discuss stakeholders’views about the fish consumption rate.DEQ convened workgroups thatlooked at public health, and the fiscalimpact and implementation of newrules. Workgroups included representativesfrom industry, local governments,non-government organizations, and localgroups meeting to develop the newcriteria with the intention of lowering theallowable amount of pollutants releasedto Oregon waters while, at the same time,considering variances and other actionsthat would provide affordable optionsto those that discharge those pollutants.Meanwhile, in 2009, while stakeholderswere meeting to hash out a new fishconsumption rate, Oregon DEQ and EPAwere sued for failing to meet federalClean Water Act deadlines.Because the rulemaking process wasnot complete - data, comments and inputwas not yet available - EPA had nottaken action. A federal court orderedEPA to take action on Oregon’s existingstandards.In June 2010, EPA disapproved those2004 standards because, as agreed uponin 2006, they were not protective enoughof Oregonians based on the amount offish they are known to consume.EPA’s disapproval caused the majorityof the 2004 water quality criteria to nolonger be effective, leaving in place theprevious criteria of 6.5 grams per day thatwas adopted in the late 1980s.The new adopted rules address EPA’sdisapproval of DEQ’s 2004 criteria andobviate the need for EPA to promulgatefederal rules for Oregon.Meanwhile, the Washington Departmentof Ecology has started a processintended to prevent sources of toxicchemicals that contaminate air, water,soil and human bodies.Toward that goal, according to a newsrelease from the Washington DOE, thestate is asking for comments on a newlyreleased technical support document,which focuses on fish consumption inWashington and existing environmentaland human health information. The draftdocument is called “Fish ConsumptionRates Technical Support Document: AReview of Data and Information AboutFish Consumption in Washington.”Washington currently uses an existingfish consumption rate of 6.5 gramsper day (26 times lower than the newlyadopted Oregon rate) in its water qualitystandards.The draft document is available onDOE’s fish consumption web portal,which can be found at www.ecy.wa.gov/toxics/fish.html. The comment periodends Dec. 30, 2011.For more details on Oregon’s newstandards, see DEQ’s “human healthrulemaking” web page at http://www.deq.state.or.us/wq/standards/humanhealthrule.htmNovember 2011Confederated Umatilla Journal51
Page 6: CUJ Letters to the EditorContinued
Page 10: CUJ AlmanacObituariesNorene M. Spee
Page 13 and 14: Geographic Names Board toconsider U
Page 15 and 16: Cobell remembered as Native America
Page 17 and 18: Ye l l o w h a w k Tr i b a l H e a
Page 19 and 20: Tamastslikt showingVeteran’s Day
Page 21 and 22: November 2011Confederated Umatilla
Page 23: Everybody’s impressed with new Ho
Page 26 and 27: Denver man’s sentencereduced in 1
Page 28 and 29: HonoringOur VeteransWoodrow Star sa
Page 30 and 31: Vote for Its-Tma-TaineTribal member
Page 32 and 33: Condit Dam breached; White Salmon r
Page 34 and 35: 34 Confederated Umatilla JournalNov
Page 36 and 37: If you are aNative AmericanFarmer o
Page 40 and 41: Employees of the MonthCecil Guardip
Page 44 and 45: FishCo completes pilot testContinue
Page 46 and 47: Mission Assemblyof God ChurchInvite
Page 48 and 49: Attention Arrowhead andStone Tool K
Page 52 and 53: Indian tribe uses tradition to comb
Page 54 and 55: Tribal colleges hope to lure kids t
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