Antone Minthorn Confederated Tribes of Umatilla Indian Reservation
		What successes have there been in returning the salmon?
		How was the water lost from the Umatilla River?
		Roberta Connor Director, Tamastslikt Cultural Institute of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation
		What is the spiritual connection to the salmon?

Throughout the West, communities face conflicts over the reserved water rights of Indian tribes and the economic use of that same water by non-Indians. To tribes the water has religious and cultural importance beyond the economic value.

The story of the salmon's return to the Umatilla River is one of leadership, cooperation, and persistence. Approximately 75 years ago water from the Umatilla River was diverted to provide agricultural irrigation in the water-starved plateau region. Diverting the water is an example of the migration of European Americans into the Pacific Northwest and the subsequent reallocation of natural resources. Taking the water lowered levels in the Umatilla River to the point that Salmon could not navigate the river to spawn; in fact the river was nearly dry much of the year.

The common problem to irrigators and Indians was that the government had promised the same water to different groups. In the treaty of 1855, the government had guaranteed local Indian tribes the right to fish for salmon. Now Indians were cut off from this resource.

In recent years the stakeholders agreed to take water from the Columbia River for irrigation purposes. This freed up water in the Umatilla River so that salmon could migrate upriver. While this project does not increase flows year-round, it does so in the spring and fall during critical salmon migration periods.

And now, thanks to a collaboration between the Confederated Tribes, the Bureau of Reclamation, and local irrigators, the river has the needed water during salmon spawning seasons. Spring chinook and coho salmon now make the run up the Umatilla River.

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