[env-trinity] Two Rivers Tribune Opinion- E.B. Duggan, Willow Creek, CA

[Tom Stokely]

Opinions (E. B. Duggan–Willow Creek, CA)
http://www.tworiverstribune.com/2012/02/opinions-e-b-duggan-willow-creek-ca/
For years the Hupa people have been good neighbors with the surrounding communities. On Dec. 8, 2011, I was informed that the Tish Tang area access was closed and that the Hoopa Reservation was closed to trespassing by non-tribal members by posting. On December 10, I physically verified this by observation. On December 11, I contacted Tribal Chairman Leonard Masten and asked about this closure and he confirmed said denial of trespass and gave me several valid reasons but that I should contact him during regular business hours at his office. The purpose of this contact was to try and secure some kind of meeting with responsible Tribal members of his choosing so we could sit down and discuss the problem and possible solutions. Since the above listed dates I have repeatedly contacted Billy Colegrove, the chairman’s administrative assistant; Darin Jarnaghan, Hoopa Forestry Supervisor; and tried to contact the Hoopa Tribal Chairman again to see if there wasn’t some way to meet and discuss the problem to some type of resolution.
At some point in the last couple of weeks a meeting was set with the Willow Creek Community Services District Manager, Steve Paine and Director Bruce Nelson. I was unable to attend due to a prior commitment with the Trinity River Restoration Program.  At this meeting it was determined that sport fishermen would be allowed to trespass to fish by “use permit” but rafters and fishing guides would be resolved at a later date. Try as I may I have been unable to find a way to apply for a sport fishing ‘use permit’ to date to fish on the reservation.
This has created a great economic hardship to the communities of Willow Creek, Hoopa and Orleans due to many fishermen canceling their reservations to not come up to the area and fish the Trinity for winter steelhead. We have already lost fishing for January, February and March, a 12 to 15 percent economic loss to these communities and ensuing businesses. With a predicted great salmon return this fishing season it could be an even greater economic loss to these communities if this problem is not resolved.
As I have continued to request a meeting with someone of the Tribal Chairman’s choice I have yet to be invited to such a meeting to try and resolve this problem.
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