"In this report, we outline a vision for desired ecological characteristics of the Umatilla River's water quality and water resource management, which will facilitate the sustained production of First Foods within the Umatilla Basin. These characteristics are founded on five fundamental "touchstones," including: 1) hydrology, 2) geomorphology, 3) connectivity, 4) native riparian vegetation, and 5) native aquatic biota. The First Foods management framework adopts a broad definition of "water quality," incorporating the physical, chemical, biological, and ecological targets to assess the quality of water in the Umatilla River. Essentially, according to this framework, the ecological function and health of the Umatilla River become a holistic measure of water quality, and provide a pathway toward the restoration and maintenance of First Foods production."--From introduction (page 1).
Archaeology has an often contentious relationship with the consequences of economic development. Tourism, urban development and natural resource exploitation have generated adverse impact on the archaeological record, indigenous cultures and local communities worldwide. Over the decades, international conventions, national laws and corporate ventures have sought to address the problems, but too often they have fallen short and immense challenges remain. Looking ahead, the contributions to this volume constitute a global conversation on the most salient issue facing archaeology as it interacts with economic development: Is collision with development still the best course? Or, is a more effective strategy to pursue collaborative relationships with the forces of economic and social change?
"This Completion Report documents the completed Meacham Creek Floodplain Restoration and In-stream Enhancement Project (Project) which was designed in 2010 and constructed in 2011. This Project is located southeast of Pendleton, Oregon, between river mile (RM) 6 and RM 7 on Meacham Creek, and has restored 5,470 linear feet of the creek and 70 acres of its adjacent floodplain. The Meacham Creek watershed has been home to the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) and a major source of food for them since time immemorial. After the Treaty of 1855 between the United States government and the CTUIR, the Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR) made extensive alterations to the Meacham Creek valley and floodplain by building miles of levees and spur dikes in an attempt to control major floods occurring in Meacham Creek. These alterations resulted in a greatly simplified channel, loss of riparian vegetation, and degraded water quality, all contributing to the loss of aquatic productivity. To address these factors limiting aquatic productivity, the CTUIR, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service (USFS), has undertaken a series of projects to remove and/or modify levees and spur dikes, add large woody debris (LWD), and reinstate geomorphic and hydrologic processes resulting in increased floodplain connectivity, habitat complexity, and creation of stable and sustainable features to address limiting factors. This Project was implemented in 2011 between RM 6 and RM 7 and is nearly evenly split between the CTUIR and Umatilla National Forest (UNF) ownership, and was a historic partnership between these two entities. This Project reach between RM 6 and RM 7 is the focus of this Completion Report. The CTUIR and USFS established two major goals for the Project: to restore processes that create and maintain habitat complexity for Endangered Species Act (ESA)-listed Middle Columbia River steelhead and Columbia River bull trout; and to meet the First Food mission of the CTUIR. The work accomplished through this approach was directly related to the First Foods of water and salmon, and to the five touchstones, which incorporate goals of restoring high water quality and healthy and sustainable salmonid fish populations. By restoring channel morphology, and in-stream and riparian ecological processes, the Project helped achieve the Umatilla River Vision of an ecologically functional and healthy river system that supports the continued natural production of First Foods and their utilization by the CTUIR community."--From executive summary.
With a long history and deep connection to the Earth’s resources, indigenous peoples have an intimate understanding and ability to observe the impacts linked to climate change. Traditional ecological knowledge and tribal experience play a key role in developing future scientific solutions for adaptation to the impacts. The book explores climate-related issues for indigenous communities in the United States, including loss of traditional knowledge, forests and ecosystems, food security and traditional foods, as well as water, Arctic sea ice loss, permafrost thaw and relocation. The book also highlights how tribal communities and programs are responding to the changing environments. Fifty authors from tribal communities, academia, government agencies and NGOs contributed to the book. Previously published in Climatic Change, Volume 120, Issue 3, 2013.
