The Quinault Indian Nation is being courted to join the discussion on flooding issues on the Chehalis River Basin.
Vickie Raines, who chairs the Chehalis Basin Flood Authority, officially sent an invitation this week to Quinault President Fawn Sharp to join in active discussions on the future of addressing flood issues along the basin.
Although Raines’ letter doesn’t offer the Quinaults an opportunity to be a formal member of the Flood Authority, Raines says the Quinaults have a right to consult on issues the Authority is dealing with and have their comments heard.
“Among other issues, we would like to talk with you about your concerns related to flooding, as well as to discuss any other related studies or efforts you may have under way,” wrote Raines, who is also the mayor of Cosmopolis but represents Montesano on the Flood Authority. “We would like to coordinate and collaborate where possible to ensure accurate information and avoid duplication of resources and effort.”
Raines made a similar offer to the Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation. The Chehalis tribe withdrew its membership to the Flood group in May, saying the Flood Authority was too focused on building dams and not focused enough on other strategies for preventing flooding along the Chehalis River.
But Chehalis Chairman David Burnett said after receiving Raines’ offer that the tribe will participate when formal consultation is needed.
Shortly after the Flood Authority was formed in 2008, the Quinaults asked to be part of the authority. The 11 participating communities voted 7-4 to keep the Quinaults out.
The Quinaults have no land within the basin but maintained that treaty fishing rights ought to earn it a place in the group.
In March, the Quinaults sent a letter to the Flood Authority and released the letter to the public condemning any efforts to construct a dam along the upper Chehalis River, an idea being studied by the Flood Authority.
“We fear that constructing the dams would add to the sad legacy of problems caused by decades of neglect and damage to ecological processes that are vital to the salmon resources protected by our treaty with the United States,” Sharp said at the time.
