On May 2, 2008, in a tribal ceremony to recognize the event, four Northwest tribes signed agreements with the federal action agencies to deliver specific, scientifically valid biological results for the region's fish. In addition, the federal agencies have also reached agreement with the states of Idaho and Montana. The state of Washington has announced its support for this partnership approach.
Tribal and federal leaders display the signed hide commemorating the historic agreement. Pictured, from left to right: Colonel Steven Miles, Northwest Division Commander, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; Antone Minthorn, Chairman, Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation; Mike Marchand, Chairman, Confederated Tribes of the Colville Indian Reservation; Ralph Sampson, Chairman, Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation; Tim Personius, Deputy Regional Director, Bureau of Reclamation; Steve Wright, Administrator, Bonneville Power Administration; Ron Suppah, Chairman, Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon; and Fidelia Andy, Chairwoman, Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission and Yakama Nation Fish and Wildlife Committee.
 Umatilla Tribal Chair Antone Minthorn speaking at the ceremony.
 Children joined in the celebration of the signing of the new Accords.
Colville Tribal Chair Mike Marchand and Yakama Tribal Chair Ralph Sampson. In the background, Col. Steven Miles.
Warm Springs Tribal Chair Ron Suppah speaking at the ceremony.
The new Columbia Basin Fish Accords are designed to supplement NOAA Fisheries’ biological opinions for listed salmon and steelhead and the Northwest Power and Conservation Council's fish and wildlife program. They provide firm commitments to hydro, habitat and hatchery actions; greater clarity about biological benefits and secure funding for 10 years.
The proposed agreements and corresponding public comment period were first announced April 7, 2008, when BPA initiated a public comment period on its proposal to enter into the agreements.
The signing of these Accords culminates two years of extensive negotiations, growing out of the collaboration ordered by U.S. District Court of Oregon Judge James Redden, among Indian tribes and the federal action agencies.
With the Accords signed, the tribes and federal agencies will immediately move forward with new projects as well as continuing existing projects throughout the Columbia River Basin. Under these agreements, the federal agencies and tribes will work together as partners "on the ground" to provide tangible survival benefits for salmon recovery - by upgrading passage over federal dams, by restoring river and estuary habitat, and by creative use of hatcheries. They will also advocate for the agreements in other regional forums.
Columbia Basin Fish Accords:
Treaty fishing tribes
- The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation;
- The Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon;
- The Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation;
- The Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission;
The Confederated Tribes of the Colville Indian Reservation
State of Idaho
State of Montana
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