Jim Heffernan, a policy analyst for the Inter-Tribal Commission, began researching the effects of the implementation of the Columbia River Treaty on the rights and resources of tribes with management authorities and obligations in 2007 and since 2010 has been helping the coordinate the effects of the 15 Columbia Basin tribes that are seeking substantive changes to the Treaty. Jim previously served as an advisor to the U.S. Section of the Pacific Commission for the treaty tribes.