However, federal officials say the Dworshak and the Clearwater are not yet on the table. But we're starting with four and talking about the terms and conditions. Those four, which are federally funded but operated by the states, are the Umatilla and Lookingglass in northeastern Oregon, the Kooskia in Idaho and the Klickitat in south-central Washington, said Bill Shake, assistant Northwest director for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Owning title to the hatcheries would mean a few more jobs for tribal members, paid with federal salmon-recovery money. It would mean more influence over salmon recovery, said Charles Hudson, spokesman for the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission, which represents treaty tribes.
States already consult with tribes over fish management.
State officials said they wouldn't willingly turn over hatcheries unless they were regularly consulted on such matters as how many of each salmon species are produced, and when and where they're released. We're going to turn them over under the conditions of a management plan. The tribes are open to that. They want to prove themselves good fish managers. Talk of transferring hatcheries is not new.