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Pomos seek Lake Sonoma land
Return of 17,000 acres for housing, commerce sought
By TOBIAS YOUNG
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
The Dry Creek Band of Pomo Indians wants the federal government to return 17,000 acres around Lake Sonoma and Warm Springs Dam for tribal housing and commerce, saying it was wrongfully taken more than a century ago.
The tribe made the request in a letter to the regional commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, saying the tribe's 1,000 members want to build their community on the land and help operate lake facilities.
The Corps of Engineers, which owns the land, has formed a task force to consider the request, said Mike Dillabough, chief of the operations and readiness division for the San Francisco district.
Dillabough said it could take several years to resolve the issue and that transferring the land would require an act of Congress.
"This is not something that would be dismissed or granted right away," he said. "We have to do a great deal of research into this, and we'll do it very seriously."
The Sept. 13 letter said the tribe would use the federal land for a number of uses. No privately owned land is being sought, tribal officials said.
"Tribal members need to be able to build their own community, complete with housing, round houses for ceremonies, schools, businesses, community centers, cultural centers and medical facilities," Tribal Chairman Harvey Hopkins said in the letter.
"This is a great opportunity for the United States and the tribe to look to the future and begin to address the needs of our youth and our tribe," the letter said. "It is definitely a win-win situation."
The tribe doesn't have specifics proposals for the land. But tribal spokesman Dave Hyams said plans would not include a casino and the tribe is not seeking the lake's water.
The land around Lake Sonoma is too remote for a casino, Hyams said, and the tribe is interested in other uses.
"There would be no need for that," he said of a casino. "The tribe is looking for a homeland for its cultural identity and institutions."
The Dry Creek Pomos operate River Rock Casino near Geyserville and have acquired land south of Petaluma.
Although the tribe filed paperwork with the federal government that would clear the way for a casino on the land near Petaluma, tribal officials say they plan to use it for agriculture.
In addition to seeking ownership of the land surrounding Lake Sonoma, Hyams said the tribe is interested in jointly operating the lake's visitor center, campgrounds, concessions and other facilities with the corps, and perhaps improving the facilities.
There is precedent for the request, Hyams said.
He pointed to tribes in Alaska, Montana, Washington, South Dakota and North Dakota that have obtained or are attempting to obtain historic lands.
Hyams said more than 60 federal properties, wildlife refuges or parks may qualify for management by Indian tribes nationwide under the Indian Self-Determination Act of 1994.
In Montana, the Salish and Kootenai tribes took over joint management of an 18,000-acre national bison wildlife refuge two years ago and last week asked for complete management.
In South Dakota, the federal government may return more than 1 million acres that were confiscated during World War II for training grounds, bombing ranges, internment camps and air strips, according to the publication Indian Country Today.
In North Dakota, the corps has backed away from plans to transfer 36,000 acres around Lake Sakakawea to the Three Affiliated Tribes, including camping sites and boat ramps, but is still considering handing over 24,000 acres.
The proposal is opposed by state officials, who said it is not in the best interests of the public. Some citizens objected to increased fees for the park before that land was excluded from the proposal.
Both Dillabough and a Bureau of Indian Affairs spokesman said a final decision about returning the land around Lake Sonoma would have to be made by Congress and affirmed by the president.
The tribe said the Bureau of Indian Affairs supports the idea of returning the Lake Sonoma land, but bureau officials reached Tuesday were unaware of the proposal.
Carmen Facio, realty officer for the bureau's Pacific Region, said it's possible the agency would support such a proposal, but she couldn't say without knowing more details.
Warm Springs Dam, which helps provide drinking water and flood control for the region, was completed in 1983.
About 500,000 visitors go to the lake annually for boating, fishing, camping, hiking and some limited hunting of pigs and turkeys, said Perry Crowley, the park manager.
The budget for the facility in 2006 is $5.825 million, with 30 percent attributed to environmental stewardship, including protecting endangered fish populations; 25 percent attributed to flood damage reduction operations; and 45 percent attributed to recreation, Crowley said.
The park brings in about $100,000 in revenue annually, he said.
Hyams said the tribe is looking to open negotiations with the corps to discuss possibilities for transferring the land into federal trust for the tribe.
The tribe has been allowed access to the land by the federal government and prior landowners for burials and gathering sedge, a plant that grows along the creeks that is used in traditional basket weaving, Hyams said.
"This isn't completely out of the blue, in other words," he said. "There is precedent for it nationally."
Return of 17,000 acres for housing, commerce sought
By TOBIAS YOUNG
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
The Dry Creek Band of Pomo Indians wants the federal government to return 17,000 acres around Lake Sonoma and Warm Springs Dam for tribal housing and commerce, saying it was wrongfully taken more than a century ago.
The tribe made the request in a letter to the regional commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, saying the tribe's 1,000 members want to build their community on the land and help operate lake facilities.
The Corps of Engineers, which owns the land, has formed a task force to consider the request, said Mike Dillabough, chief of the operations and readiness division for the San Francisco district.
Dillabough said it could take several years to resolve the issue and that transferring the land would require an act of Congress.
"This is not something that would be dismissed or granted right away," he said. "We have to do a great deal of research into this, and we'll do it very seriously."
The Sept. 13 letter said the tribe would use the federal land for a number of uses. No privately owned land is being sought, tribal officials said.
"Tribal members need to be able to build their own community, complete with housing, round houses for ceremonies, schools, businesses, community centers, cultural centers and medical facilities," Tribal Chairman Harvey Hopkins said in the letter.
"This is a great opportunity for the United States and the tribe to look to the future and begin to address the needs of our youth and our tribe," the letter said. "It is definitely a win-win situation."
The tribe doesn't have specifics proposals for the land. But tribal spokesman Dave Hyams said plans would not include a casino and the tribe is not seeking the lake's water.
The land around Lake Sonoma is too remote for a casino, Hyams said, and the tribe is interested in other uses.
"There would be no need for that," he said of a casino. "The tribe is looking for a homeland for its cultural identity and institutions."
The Dry Creek Pomos operate River Rock Casino near Geyserville and have acquired land south of Petaluma.
Although the tribe filed paperwork with the federal government that would clear the way for a casino on the land near Petaluma, tribal officials say they plan to use it for agriculture.
In addition to seeking ownership of the land surrounding Lake Sonoma, Hyams said the tribe is interested in jointly operating the lake's visitor center, campgrounds, concessions and other facilities with the corps, and perhaps improving the facilities.
There is precedent for the request, Hyams said.
He pointed to tribes in Alaska, Montana, Washington, South Dakota and North Dakota that have obtained or are attempting to obtain historic lands.
Hyams said more than 60 federal properties, wildlife refuges or parks may qualify for management by Indian tribes nationwide under the Indian Self-Determination Act of 1994.
In Montana, the Salish and Kootenai tribes took over joint management of an 18,000-acre national bison wildlife refuge two years ago and last week asked for complete management.
In South Dakota, the federal government may return more than 1 million acres that were confiscated during World War II for training grounds, bombing ranges, internment camps and air strips, according to the publication Indian Country Today.
In North Dakota, the corps has backed away from plans to transfer 36,000 acres around Lake Sakakawea to the Three Affiliated Tribes, including camping sites and boat ramps, but is still considering handing over 24,000 acres.
The proposal is opposed by state officials, who said it is not in the best interests of the public. Some citizens objected to increased fees for the park before that land was excluded from the proposal.
Both Dillabough and a Bureau of Indian Affairs spokesman said a final decision about returning the land around Lake Sonoma would have to be made by Congress and affirmed by the president.
The tribe said the Bureau of Indian Affairs supports the idea of returning the Lake Sonoma land, but bureau officials reached Tuesday were unaware of the proposal.
Carmen Facio, realty officer for the bureau's Pacific Region, said it's possible the agency would support such a proposal, but she couldn't say without knowing more details.
Warm Springs Dam, which helps provide drinking water and flood control for the region, was completed in 1983.
About 500,000 visitors go to the lake annually for boating, fishing, camping, hiking and some limited hunting of pigs and turkeys, said Perry Crowley, the park manager.
The budget for the facility in 2006 is $5.825 million, with 30 percent attributed to environmental stewardship, including protecting endangered fish populations; 25 percent attributed to flood damage reduction operations; and 45 percent attributed to recreation, Crowley said.
The park brings in about $100,000 in revenue annually, he said.
Hyams said the tribe is looking to open negotiations with the corps to discuss possibilities for transferring the land into federal trust for the tribe.
The tribe has been allowed access to the land by the federal government and prior landowners for burials and gathering sedge, a plant that grows along the creeks that is used in traditional basket weaving, Hyams said.
"This isn't completely out of the blue, in other words," he said. "There is precedent for it nationally."
