2008 Columbia Basin Fish Accords MOA with the Shoshone-Banock Tribes

To improve fish survival and habitat, and to advance fish recovery in the Columbia River Basin, the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) on May 2, 2008, entered into four agreements, known as the Columbia Basin Fish Accords, with four tribes, two states, and two other federal agencies. The agreements address fish affected by federal dams of the Federal Columbia River Power System (FCRPS), with a focus on salmon and steelhead listed under the Endangered Species Act. The agreements will result in numerous new projects and dedicated funding for certain on-going projects throughout the Columbia River Basin for the next 10 years. The agreements also marked a turning point for the parties, ushering in a collaborative partnership rather than continuing with an adversarial relationship. BPA has subsequently decided to enter into a fifth Columbia Basin Fish Accord with the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes of the Fort Hall Indian Reservation in Idaho. Through this agreement, as with the Accords entered into in May, BPA is committing funding on a long-term basis to implement projects for the benefit of fish and wildlife in the Basin. The agreement recognizes the role of the Shoshone Bannock Tribes as co-managers of fish and wildlife resources.