The Yakamas are trying, with a partner to generate power from the Preist Rapids and Waunapum dams. The application has not been appoved yet. Duck

The yakimas want to generate power? Will someone please tell me exactly how generating power coincides with traditional tribal practices? Oh I get it. It must be along the same line as how selling fireworks is part of tribal heritage. If the Tribes want to net the fish and to be able to hunt year around, and to go Whaling, and all of that other horse$hit, then fine! However, if they want to play up the whole "Native American Heritage" thing as a way to be able to accomplish their goals, then they should have to stick to the "Tribal" way of life. Make them live in a long house.... No more Government housing. Make them use Salmon and Shellfish, and picking berries as their sole means of subsistance. No more Casinos, no more fireworks sells, no more commerce with the Japanese egg buyers, and for God's sake no power generation facilities.... In fact, if they really want to get back to the Tribal way of life..... No modern comforts at all! The tribes are all to willing to accept the good things that came from the Europeans settling North America, and they are more than willing to play up the fact that they are Native American as a way to get more than what they deserve. What they don't understand is compromise. Maybe the Native Americans af yesteryear, but not the Native Americans of today. They are a captive people who are no longer capable of self sufficiency, ie, they can no longer make it on the Traditional Tribal ways. They are no longer a "true" Tribal Society, and as such, the treaties should be re-written accordingly.

ZOZO Just sumed it all up. The Treaties need to be re-written.

Something else I would like to add to what the guy said about the net almost stretching across the water. Take a picture. If it looks suspicious, a picture tells a thousand words.

But here is what I wanted to add: I've noticed whereever netting is concerned in rivers (the ones I've seen), they are supposed to leave "said" opening free of nets to allow the fish to get by. Well, why is it that these nets usually are strung up in a deep hole that is right next to a shallow shelf? They stretch the nets through the hole, and "legally" they leave their buffer zone for the fish to pass through, but the water is 2" deep in these spots. Is there not a depth law, stating a minimum depth this buffer zone is supposed to be????????? This is greatly evidenced on the Chehalis River when the nets are in.

I had heard that specifically in hood canal last year that they couldn't net within 1000' of the salt water esturaries. Yet, I still saw them inside stringing nets from one side of the estuary to the other and then running the boat back and forth to scare the fish in the net.

Is there any place on the internet or otherwise that these supposed rules are published. I am planning on taking a camera with me every time I go out. So beware snaggers and indians I have a 400 power zoom. You'll be able to count the zits on the dirty rotten ba$tard$ faces.

I saw to many piles of dead fish on the beach last year with there bellies hanging open.

It's not going to change and all the complaining is not going to change it. The goverment is trying to keep to there word on all issues. they said they would provide house to the natives when Bonneville kill station was built and the natives ended up with one village. Still on the east side we are working together and accomplishing some goals. The crying doesn't help, in fact it makes things worse. Working together is the answer to get more done. Not being involed and crying is detrimental. I hope working together is the way of the future not crying. It doesn't help. Jim Marquis Duck

You're right Duck crying wont help... but, I dont think we are all crying here...

A little enforsement of the rules that do exist would be nice. If it takes sending pictures with a well worded letter to the powers that be to get them to open their eyes so be it. I cant help but think it might help in some way.

ZoZo - Here's an answer to your question regarding the Yakama Tribe and power generation. Priest Rapids Dam on the mid-Columbia River is up for relicensing in a couple years. The tribe has petitioned to be a competing applicant. That is, they are considering filing a competing application with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to take over the project. When a hydropower license expires, anyone can file a competing application, including you or I. If FERC awards the license to someone other than the current owner, the new licensee gets to operate for the next 30 to 50 years. It's sorta like a government sactioned hostile takeover.

The Tribes have no special treatment or consideration because of their tribal status or treaty reserved rights. They're no different than anyone else. If you want to file a competing application, you'll have the same rights and opportunities as the Yakama's (for a change...). However, it'll probably cost you several millon dollars to put together an application.

But having the tribes as a competing applicant for the Priest Rapids Dam is a good thing. It won't be hard to show that they can operate the project in a more environmentally friendly manner. In my view, the current licensee (Grant County PUD) has been horrible. They have operated the project to maximize power generation at the expense of almost everything else, primarily the salmon. By indicating their interest in taking over the project, Grant County PUD, is taking notice and is trying to improve their environmental record.

I certainly hope the Yakama's are successful in taking over the project. If they do, I'm sure salmon survival at Priest Rapids Dam will be a much higher priority than it is now.

Once they do gain control of the dam then they can just connect the fish ladders to the processors and $$$$$$$$$$$$ on top of the money from power generation and State and Federal support. You are warped if you think they will run it in away that helps the environment, it will be run to maximise profit.