Shoshone-Bannock Tribes’ CRSO EIS Tribal Perspectives Document April 2019, Appendix P excerpt:

The Shoshone-Bannock Tribes (Tribes) of the Fort Hall Indian Reservation, located in Southeast Idaho, appreciate the co-lead agencies providing this opportunity to hear our perspective on the Columbia River System Operations (CRSO) and the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) currently being developed for the Columbia River System (System). As a cooperating agency, federally recognized Tribe, and Fish Accord partner, the Tribes have a unique view of the issues surrounding anadromous fish management in the context of the operations of the System. Given the limiting factors affecting the recovery of anadromous fish throughout the System, the Tribes believe it is time to select an alternative that restores the systems and affected unoccupied lands to a natural condition. This includes the restoration of component resources to conditions which most closely represents the ecological features associated with a natural riverine ecosystem. Based on the range of feasible alternatives, the nearest alternative to this perspective would be for the co-lead agencies to select and implement Multiple Objective - 3 (MO3).

The Tribes perspectives are based upon our reliance on the natural riverine ecosystem of the Columbia River Basin (Basin) for subsistence since time immemorial. This reliance was recognized and guaranteed through the Treaty reserved right to hunt on unoccupied lands of the United States. Our rights and interests are directly impacted by the operation, maintenance, and configuration of the System. To protect our rights and interests we are participating in the development of the EIS as a cooperating agency. Since our perspective can be broader than the boxes of National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) allows for and our expanded definitions of Indian Trust Assets and Cultural Resources cannot be heard we feel that the Tribal Perspective section is a welcomed opportunity to express our values, concerns, and risks to the Tribes culture and Treaty reserved rights.

As is the fate of the Salmon, the continued existence of our culture is at risk of extinction because of the environmental inequities that have been forced upon our people. Over the last 200 years we have endured brutal atrocities against our people, the taking of our lands, the depletion of our food and medicinal resources, the political interests of the majority, and the legal conclusions that now govern how our culture can exist. The equitable distribution of environmental risk and benefits has not been afforded to the Shoshone and Bannock peoples, and as it has been done throughout history, we are forced to shoulder the burdens of conservation. Because what is at stake now is our Treaty reserved subsistence lifestyle.

Populations of salmon, including those in the Snake River subbasin, decreased substantially coincident with the construction of hydroelectric dams on the Lower Snake and Columbia rivers and other anthropogenic impacts across the landscape. Currently, salmon occupy 40% of their historic habitat in the Basin. Salmon in the Snake River subbasin have been completely eliminated above the Hells Canyon Complex and abundance in the Salmon River is estimated at 0.5% of its historical runs size. Snake River chinook and steelhead smolt to adult returns (SARs) are generally less than 1% — far below the necessary standard for population replacement or to meet the Northwest Power and Conservation Council goals of 2-6%. Reducing current annual Tribal member consumption to 1.2 pounds of salmon compared to historical use of about 700 pounds per person. The loss of salmon threatens traditional cultural practices that are a vital part of our Tribal identity.