Pago 2 Water Quality Spilyay Tymoo r 4 ,t - . . si , ! , . , "?" . ', WXiiV iV ........ yyx: y J . , f ... 4 ' ''I .j v." '"- ..yy-xy-f ... -"--4; Committee requests community response on water quality "Pure water" is the cultural value and standard we place on water quality. It is of great importance and priority to the Warm Springs people that the highest quality standards be maintained. "Water is life.... our most precious resource... we always drink it before and after meals... there must always be water." The Warm Springs Reservation was laid out around the principle that... "we don't want anyone living between the water sources and ourselves, so it will be pure, so they can't dirty it up." The waters of Mt Jefierson must be kept pure because it supplies the life to this reservation. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN INVITING COMMUNITY COMMENT on WATER QUALITY ISSUES concerning the WATERS of the WARM SPRINGS RESERVATION BEFORE THE JOINT COMMITTEE: January 15, 1992 at Agency Longhouse and January 16, 1992 at Simnasho Longhouse (Dinner will be served at 6:00 P.M. each evening) The following report on Water Quality Issues was prepared by an Environmental Team to adcress issues as directed by Tribal Council. The Team presented findings and alternatives to the Joint Committee for review and recommendations. The Committee gave recommendations to Tribal Council in July. At the July meeting, Council Members directed the Joint Committee to conduct hearings with Tribal Members on the selection of alternatives. Council also instructed the Committee to prepare a slide presentation on the issues for the hearings The Joint Committee has scheduled hearings for January 15 & 16, 1992. The January 15 hearing will be held from 7:00 P.M. to 9:00 P.M. at the Agency Longhouse. The January 16 Simnasho hearing will also be held from 7:00 P.M. to 9:00 P.M. Dinners will be served at 6:00 P.M. each evening. The Joint Committee will conduct the hearings and document testimony on the alternatives. Water Quality slides will be shown first for Off-Reservation Issues, with testimony being taken. Slides for On Reservation issues will then be presented and testimony taken. Slides on Other Water Quality Issues will be shown last with testimony taken. Tribal Members wishing to give testimony can provide written comments andor oral comments on the selection of alternatives. A transcript of the testimony will be attached to the Offical Report and given to Tribal Council before they decide which actions will be best for the Tribes. WARM SPRINGS RESERVATION ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUESNEEDS ANALYSIS - WATER QUALITY This report it prepared for the Tribal Council to use in determining the course of action to Uke on water quality issues both on and off reservation. Reviewed by the Joint Comaattee Max Jackson, Timb:r Committee Gordon Scott Sr., Range Committee A Water Control Board Claude Smith Sr., Fish A Wildlife Committee Nathan Jim Sr., Fish A Wildlife Committee Kirby Heath Sr., Fish A Wildlife Committee Wilbur Johnson Sr., Fish A Wildlife and Range Committeea Irene Towe, Education Committee Verbena Greene, Culture A Heritage Committee Madeline Mclnturff, Culture A Heritage Committee Ron Suppah Sr., Land Use Planning Committee Cyrus Katchia, Land Use Planning Committee Ait Mitchell, Timber Committee Raymond Moody, Timber Committee Gladys Thompson, Culture A Heritage Committee Wilson Wewa, Sr., Range Committee A Culture A Heritage Committee Prepared by the Environmental Team Jody Calica, Team leader Chris Eck, Tribal Attorney Zack Willey, Environmental Defense Fund Ed Minion, Public Utilities Herb Oraybeal, Utilities Dean Seyler, Fire and Safety Deepak Seghal, Watermaster Louie Pitt, Natural Resources Gerald Hcnrikson, BIA MUkey Rathsam, IHS , SUPPORT STAFF Ray Rang ill, Govt Affairs and Planning Dale Hile, Legislative Office Rosella Moseley, Legislative Office SUMMARY OF ENVIRONMENTAL TEAM - SCOPING MEETINGS The Environmental Team has met several times to discuss the environmental issues effecting the reservation. On January 23, 1991, the team presented '.o Tribal Council for their review and direction, the following issues: 1. Water Quality 2. Solid Waste 3. Hazardous Waste 4. Air Quality 5. Community Awareness (education including recycling) 6. Natural Resources -rangeagriculture -soils -forests -fish & wildlife -rivers & lakes 7. PesticidesHerbicides 8. Enforcement Authority At the end of the presentation, Tribal Council directed the Environmental Team to analyze the following priority issuss and report back to them with the options for each: 1. Coordination and responsibility for implementation of existing Tribal Laws. 2. Off-reservation issues: Non-point source pollution Air pollution Cultural Resources 3. On-Reservation issues: Solid Waste - Hazardous waste spills on Highway 26 and Burlington Northern Railroad - Cultural Resources - Lagoons - Mill waste (oil products, water, chemicals) - Water Quality - Soils: forest and rangelands (erosion) 4. Community Awareness The Environmental Team analyzed priority issues and assembled the first of a series of reports. Each report will address a single issue for Tribal Council use in setting direction. The following report addresses the issue of Water Quality and has been reviewed by the Joint Committee which provides Tribal Council with their recommendations. WARM SPRINGS RESERVATION Preliminary Report ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUESNEEDS ANALYSIS - WATER QUALITY INTRODUCTION The Environmental Team determined that water quality issues are of immediate concern and deserve the highest priority. The analysis of water quality issues is far reaching in respect to the list of priorities identified by the Tribal Council. The Team assessed water quality issues and has reviewed its findings with the Joint Committee. The Joint Committee added their concerns and recommendations to this report. 1. OFF-RESERVATION ISSUES: NON-POINT SOURCE POLLUTION ISSUE STATEMENT: The nutrient levels in Lake Billy Chinook have increased due to agricultural activity and erosion in the Crooked River Watershed. Fertilizers from fields and inadequate recreation facilities have led to an increase in the amount of algae in the lakes. Algae causes the water .it 1 07