Spilyay tymoo. (Warm Springs, Or.) 1976-current, December 27, 1991, Water Quality, Page PAGE 2, Image 10

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Water Quality
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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
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