River wins: Tiny tribe seeks to move village

Carving out the last 37 acres from the Olympic National park may be a tougher proposition.

The Hoh Tribe has been working quietly to line up support.

Democrat U.S. Rep. Norm Dicks plans to reintroduce a bill in January to transfer land from the park and put it in trust for the Hoh tribe, his spokesman George Behan said.

Barb Maynes, a park spokeswoman, said the park has been working with the tribe at Dicks' request to make sure both tribal and park interests are included.

Park conservationists have been largely supportive.

"If there's no other alternative, you need to protect human life," said Sean Smith, Northwest regional director for the National Parks Conservation Association.

The tribe wouldn't be able to develop on the land and must maintain a natural wildlife corridor on it. Hunting, logging or gaming would not be allowed.

While conservationist are reluctant to see lands withdrawn from the park without additional lands added, it's a reasonable request, said Tim McNulty, a trustee of Olympic Park Associates.

Sandbags and boots at the ready
The 133 residents who live on the reservation are used to stepping over sandbags and keeping boots at the ready. The nearby park's lush rainforest gets about 12 feet of rain a year.

When it rains, the river crests, the creeks overflow and water courses down the main road. During one recent storm, the National Guard had to truck in clean drinking water and food to residents.

Sandbagging is second nature. On a recent day, the tribe with the help of state prison labor bagged 6,000 pounds of sand — just in case.

A berm, four sandbags high, surrounds Eric Penn's house. Some of the sandbags are so old, vegetation grows from it.

"It's worse than it used to be," he said.

Benally said recent progress in acquiring land has infused new energy into the tribe. It is opening a new clinic, daycare center and tribal center on safe ground at the edge of the reservation. It has plans to build new homes in the newly acquired land.

"We have a lot of respect for the river," she said. But "now we have the new land and can relocate."

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