News Release Archive

Fort Hall Rededication Ceremony Set for May 27

Media Contact: John Redding, (208) 378-5212, jredding@pn.usbr.gov
Teneal Jensen, tjensen@pn.usbr.gov

For Release: May 13, 2009

The Bureau of Reclamation, together with the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes and the Bureau of Indian Affairs will hold a rededication ceremony for the Fort Hall Monument, celebrating the completion of the bank stabilization project. The event is set for May 27 at 1:30 p.m. at Fort Hall Bottoms in Fort Hall, Idaho.

The restoration project that protected this important Native American site is located on Tribal and Reclamation land about two miles upstream from American Falls Reservoir on the south bank of the Snake River in southeastern Idaho. It is situated along the historic Oregon Trail.

In 2007, Reclamation issued the Final Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Fort Hall National Historic Landmark Riverbank Stabilization Project with a Finding of No Significant Impact. A range of riverbank stabilization alternatives evaluated in the Final EA aimed at reducing erosion to provide protection of the landmark.

The proposed action was developed by Reclamation in coordination with the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes and the Bureau of Indian Affairs to protect the cultural and historic resources of the threatened landmark. The stabilization project included the placement of riprap along approximately 3,800 feet of the left bank of the Snake River.

A 5-foot tall sandstone monument is located within the landmark boundaries of the Fort Hall Indian Reservation, which is the permanent homeland of the Tribes. The BIA serves as trustee of the Reservation lands held in trust by the United States for the Tribes. The landmark also encumbers land acquired by Reclamation that is located inside Reservation boundaries.

Signs will be posted showing directions to the ceremony site. For more information about attending the event, contact Teneal Jensen, Native American Affairs Coordinator at (208) 383-2252. A map to the area can be found at: http://www.usbr.gov/pn/news/forthall/index.html.

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Relevant Link:

http://www.usbr.gov/pn/news/forthall/index.html.