Oregon Public Broadcasting

A battle for fishing rights that started when Bonneville Dam was built, appears to be drawing to an end. As Kristian Foden-Vencil reports, the Army Corps of Engineers has completed the purchase of 50 acres of land next to the Columbia River.

When the dam was built in the 1930's, the fishing grounds Native American tribes had been promised in the treaty of 1855 were inundated with water. Tribes were told they'd receive 400 acres of new waterfront.

But in 50 years they only received 40 acres. President Reagan passed a bill to provide the rest of the fishing sites.

Gail Lovell of the Army Corps, says this 50 acre parcel in Dallesport marks the last of them -- and the government will spruce it up for tribal use.

Gail Lovell: "Making it so that they can access the river, which is the big thing, and having a fish cleaning station and places for them to camp during the fishing season."

Work should be finished by next year. The land will be for the exclusive use of the Umatilla, Warm Springs, Yakama, and Nez Perce tribes.

Several recreation areas for the general public are nearby.