News Release
| Release Number: | 01-148 |
| Dated: | 10/25/2001 |
| Contact: | Matt Rabe, 503-808-4510 |
Portland, Ore.- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is seeking public comments on a proposal to acquire three parcels of land to develop fishing access sites for four Federally-recognized tribes. The sites would be located between Bonneville and The Dalles dams on the Columbia River.
The three proposed locations are the Kim and Mount Adams Loggers Association sites in Washington, and Wyeth site in Oregon. Other sites were initially evaluated, but are not being considered for acquisition at this time.
For questions or comments on the draft environmental assessment, or to request a copy of the EA, call Lynne Hamilton at (503) 808-4772, or write to: District Engineer, Portland District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineer District, Portland, Attn: Lynne Hamilton, CENWP-PM-E, P.O. Box 2946, Portland, Ore., 97208-2946.
Comments must be postmarked by Nov. 26, 2001, and should reference Public Notice Number CENWP-PM-E-01-11, Columbia River Treaty Fishing Access Sites Bonneville Pool, Oregon and Washington.
Further environmental analysis will take place as facilities are being designed specific to each location. After being developed, each site would provide access to the Columbia River and contain specific improvements based on individual site needs and conditions. Corps Project Manager George Miller said those improvements could include sanitary and support facilities, floating docks, access roads, breakwaters, pilings and boat ramps. As sites are completed, the property management, to include facility operation and maintenance, will be transferred to the Department of the Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs.
The sites will be solely for use by members of the Nez Perce Tribe, the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon, and the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Indian Nation. They are not intended to be used by the general public.
The Corps began constructing the treaty fishing access sites in June 1996. To date, 23 sites - mostly converted from Corps-managed lands - have been completed or are under construction. The program calls for 31 sites to be established along the Columbia River. The Corps has sought willing sellers to acquire land for at least six sites along the portion of the Columbia River behind Bonneville Dam. Three of these sites have been acquired.
The Corps is developing new sites to replace those traditional fishing sites inundated following completion of Bonneville Dam. Access to the river for fishing purposes is guaranteed under treaties signed between the United States government and the individual tribes during the 1850s and the Columbia River Treaty Fishing Access Site program authorized by Public Law 100-581, Title IV, and signed into law in 1988.
The sites completed or under construction include: Bonneville, Underwood, Cooks, Lyle, Alderdale, Roosevelt, White Salmon, Maryhill, Goodnoe, Pasture Point, Rock Creek, Moonay, Pine Creek, Alder Creek, and Wind River, in Washington; Lone Pine, Cascade Locks, Stanley Rock, Faler Road, Rufus, Celilo, Threemile Canyon and Preachers Eddy in Oregon.