Citation:

Impact/Purpose:

Tribal Governments in the State of Idaho are working closely with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 10, the State of Idaho, and other stakeholders to gather data on FCRs. The overarching goal of this process is to obtain information on fish consumption to enable Tribal governments to set water quality standards for tribal waters, and to allow Tribes to meaningfully participate as informed partners in Idaho DEQ’s ambient water quality criteria review process that impacts tribal interests. A Tribal heritage rate study was conducted as part of this effort. Recognizing that current Tribal fish consumption is suppressed due to a number of factors (e.g. decreased fish populations due to physical habitat modification and adverse effects of chemical contamination, loss of Tribal access to fisheries resources, fears of exposure to contaminants in fish, and changes in fish harvesting by Tribal members associated with adaptation to economic and cultural shifts), this study compiled and evaluated available data to determine heritage FCRs for the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes. Knowledge of past rates may help determine how current FCRs might increase in the future if current fisheries resources are improved and fish consumption is restored to past, higher levels. Information about FCRs may be used to support development of water quality standards that protect human health. Water quality is of great importance to the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes, since a substantial portion of their diet is derived from aquatic sources, and water and aquatic resources are of great cultural and spiritual significance. As part of the survey effort, discussions with the Tribe highlighted the issue of suppression and its causes. Therefore, the survey team agreed to review and evaluate heritage rates available in the literature, which may be more relevant than current suppressed rates to the long-term restoration goals of the Tribe. The Shoshone-Bannock Tribes’ primary objective for the fish consumption survey is to develop water quality standards that will result in clean water and clean fish, both of which are vital to their existence, but which are being (or have been) lost. The Tribe has been working for many years to improve and return anadromous fish runs to the traditional fish areas and to protect, restore, and enhance fish-related resources in accordance with the Tribes’ unique interests and vested rights in such resources. Currently, they cannot drink the water or eat the fish due primarily to contamination and development. Their overarching goal is to bring back full-system functionality of the entire basin and provide clean resources to sustain Tribal health and culture. This survey can help document the strong connection of spiritual, mental, and physical wellbeing of Tribal members to the natural resources.

Description:

This report culminates two years of work—preceded by years of discussion—to characterize the current and heritage fish consumption rates and fishing-related activities of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes. The report contains three volumes in one document. Volume I is concerned with heritage rates and the methods used to estimate the rates; Volume II describes the methods and results of a current fish consumption survey; Volume III is a technical appendix to Volume II.

Record Details: