Weitchpec CA — On April 2, leaders of the Hoopa Valley Tribe and Yurok Tribe signed an agreement to share 50,000 Acre-Feet (AF) of federal water from the Bureau of Reclamation’s Trinity Reservoir near Lewiston, CA, according to a press release from the Yurok Tribe.
The signing ceremony took place at the confluence of the Klamath and Trinity Rivers on the border of Yurok and Hoopa Valley tribal homelands.
The Tribes’ rights to that water come from a 1955 federal law under which Reclamation dammed the Trinity River and diverted most of the water it stored to the Central Valley, and a 1959 contract between the Bureau of Reclamation and Humboldt County for a portion of the reservoir supply.
Congress awarded the water to Humboldt County and the Tribes to ensure their opportunity for economic development with Reclamation’s water supply and to mitigate Trinity Dam’s impact on the downstream communities.
The agreement also provides for Humboldt County’s interest in the water supply and has terms to coordinate the Tribes’ and the County’s use and management of the water.
The Tribes have discussed the idea of an agreement with the County for several years. The Tribes’ agreement brings the region closer to a resolution that respects and fulfills the promise Congress made seven decades ago.
“We have fought for many years to have our rights to this water honored and today marks the beginning of that long-overdue process. This is a significant step forward, but it’s only the beginning,” said Ryan Jackson, Acting Chairman of the Hoopa Valley Tribe. “Our commitment to restoring the health of the Trinity River and ensuring that our people have access to the water that is rightfully ours is unwavering.”
Joe James, Chairman of the Yurok Tribe, echoed these sentiments: “This agreement is a victory, but there is much more work to be done. We will continue to advocate for the protection and restoration of our natural resources, ensuring future generations of our people have what they need to prosper.”
“Together, we are committed to swift completion to our ongoing negotiations with Humboldt County,” added Jackson.
The signing of this agreement is a testament to the persistence, resilience, and dedication of the Hoopa Valley and Yurok Tribes. This water allocation will provide critical support for their communities, as well as for the broader efforts to restore the river ecosystem and preserve vital resources for generations to come.
