WASHINGTON, D.C. (Dec. 14, 2023) – The Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) was again privileged to lead mediation efforts between the US Government (USG) and parties involved in a long-running Federal lawsuit over the operation of the Columbia River Power System.
The National Wildlife Federation, the State of Oregon, the State of Washington, the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon, and the Nez Perce Tribe have agreed with the USG on a series of commitments and actions which will keep the conflict out of the court room and move toward habitat restoration and repairs in order to restore salmon and other fish species populations to the Columbia River Basin.
The continued efforts of all the parties in these complex and long-running negotiations are to be commended, and FMCS congratulates them on their progress and the resolving of these intricate and multi-faceted issues.