Water Resource

Being Frank: Wisdom, Foresight, Courage And The Three “G’s”

OLYMPIA (April 11, 2006) — It’s a simple fact of Nature. Salmon need clean, cool water.

But meeting the water needs of salmon in today’s world is no easy task. It takes wisdom, foresight and courage. It also takes the cooperation and collaboration of the three “G’s” the federal, state and tribal governments. Local governments are also obviously important, as are non-governmental entities, but let’s concentrate on the owners and managers of the water resource rather than those who need state permits to use it.

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Tribes Hold The Senior Water Right

January 14, 2003

With the 2003 State Legislature now in session, water is again a key environmental issue being considered by the state lawmakers.

Another thing they must consider is that the tribes hold the senior water right in this state. The senior right is not held by the public utility districts. It’s not held by the cities, and it’s not held by corporations or the counties. It’s held by the tribal governments—along with the state and federal governments. These are the governments that actually own the water, on behalf of their respective citizens. That’s the law, and yet the state has consistently ignored the tribes in its legislative and management practices and policies.

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