[env-trinity] Times-Standard- Hoopa Tribal Council calls a halt to Tish Tang access pilot program

[Tom Stokely]

http://www.times-standard.com/localnews/ci_21851619 
Hoopa Tribal Council calls a halt to Tish Tang access pilot program
Grant Scott-Goforth/The Times-Standard Eureka Times Standard
Created:
Times-Standard.com
A pilot program designed to give non-tribal member river guides access to the Trinity River on the Hoopa Valley Reservation was discontinued after 30 days.

At its Oct. 18 meeting, the Hoopa Tribal Council -- based on recommendations from staff -- decided not to continue the program, which was adopted on an emergency basis last month.

In January, the tribal council announced it would look into a permit program after the chairman's office asked the tribe's forestry department to close gates and post no trespassing signs on the Tish Tang access road in early December. Fishing guides and tribal members raised concerns over the restricted access of non-tribal members. The Hoopa Valley Tribe has sovereign authority over its territory.

”In recent years, the tribe has been confronted with increasingly disrespectful and destructive conduct by users of tribal lands and resources,” the tribe said in a statement last year. “This includes repeated incidents of illegal dumping, theft of resources, habitat destruction, contamination of lands and waterways and other public offenses. In response to what has reached an emergency level, action has been taken to restrict access via posting of designated roads and river access locations, together with the installation of gates in some instances.”

Tribal Council Vice Chairman Byron Nelson Jr. is frustrated with the dissolution of the pilot program, though he said the council would be revisiting the issue, likely at the next meeting.

”I'm just a little disappointed about how the bureaucracy has taken over the effort,” Nelson said. “It really shouldn't be that hard to come up with an ordinance that would be fair all the way around.”

Nelson said issues raised by tribal staff led them to recommend discontinuing the program.

”Whether or not that's a real practical way, I don't know,” Nelson said.

Willow Creek Chamber of Commerce President Ed Duggan said he was upset immediately after the decision, but he understands the reasoning better now.

He said the amendment to tribal code would have given approved river guides access to all tribal lands.

”What we were after was access to the river, not the whole reservation,” said Duggan, who is a member of the Trinity River Guides Association. “There are places on the reservation that are ceremonial spots.”

Nelson said that for years, anyone with a state fishing license could fish on the Trinity River. Only the tributary creeks were reserved for tribal members. He said the chairman, Leonard Masten Jr., basically took action himself to close Tish Tang to combat destruction of the popular river access site.

”We're really trying to keep the valley clean,” Nelson said.

Calls placed to Masten's office, as well as the Hoopa Tribal Forestry and Fisheries departments, were not returned by press deadline.

Fishing guides grumbled about the restriction, but Trinity River Guides Association board member Michael Caranci said that it's ultimately the tribe that's affected by the restriction.

”Most of the people that do fish down there are going somewhere else,” Caranci said. “The only people it's hurting is the Hoopa Tribe.”

Without a local draw to fishermen, businesses in the Hoopa Valley are missing out on economic opportunities like selling guide services, equipment sales and gas sales, Caranci said.

Duggan agreed, saying that towns upriver gained the business that Willow Creek, Hoopa and Weitchpec lose.

”It's a crying shame if [fishermen] say they're gonna stay upriver,” Duggan said.

Caranci added that fishing guides weren't the ones trashing river access sites in the first place.

”Most of the guides are in favor of a fee or payment system for access,” Caranci said. “It's in the tribe's best interest.”

Frank Galusha, publisher of North Coast recreation website myoutdoorbuddy.com, lamented the restricted access.

”Except for salmon and steelhead, everyone has everything to gain and nothing to lose as a result of what has become a stale and totally silly stalemate,” Galusha said in an email.

Nelson said that the council, though in disagreement about the pilot program, designated a staff work group to coordinate solutions.

”I might have to voice my opinion a little bit more about what we should do,” Nelson said. “It's really gonna be on the council to step up and give clear directions and timelines.”

Duggan is optimistic that the tribal council will let guides back onto the river.

”I think we might be able to salvage the attitude of the council and start over with gaining accessibility,” he said.

Grant Scott-Goforth can be reached at 441-0514 or gscott-goforth at times-standard.com.
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