1. NOAA RELEASES PRELIMINARY REPORT ON SPECIES STATUS Posted on Monday, September 22, 2003 (PST)

A draft federal report released this week outlines a good news/bad news scenario for West Coast salmon and steelhead recovery, calling recent years' general increase in the number of returning wild spawners "encouraging," but cautioning that only time will tell if populations are truly rebounding. Read More...

2. NORTHWEST DELEGATION RESPONDS TO OMB'S BPA CRITICISM Posted on Monday, September 22, 2003 (PST)

Members of Congress from four states served by the Bonneville Power Administration have asked the White House budget office to retract its criticism of the low-cost energy supplier. Read More...

3. SCIENCE PANEL SAYS FIRST SUBBASIN PLAN NEEDS REVISION Posted on Monday, September 22, 2003 (PST)

The Independent Scientific Review Panel pulled no punches in what was its first technical review of a subbasin plan submitted through Northwest Power and Conservation Council's fish and wildlife program amendment process. Read More...

4. SOS REPORT FLUNKS FEDS; AGENCIES DISPUTE FINDINGS Posted on Monday, September 22, 2003 (PST)

The Bush administration's implementation of the 2000 Columbia Basin salmon recovery plan received its second annual failing grade this week from Northwest environmentalists, who predicted it will flunk its mandatory third-year evaluation this September. Read More...

5. INTERIOR SPENDING BILL INCLUDES 'MASS MARKING' REQUIREMENT Posted on Monday, September 22, 2003 (PST)

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service officials are concerned about the cost and manpower needed to comply with a recently enacted congressional requirement for federal and federally funded salmon hatcheries to mark all juvenile fish. Read More...

6. STRONG FALL CHINOOK, COHO RETURNS EXPECTED Posted on Monday, September 22, 2003 (PST)

Federal, state and tribal officials expect more good news for anglers and fish managers when fall chinook and coho salmon begin forging up the Columbia River late this summer in search of the basin spawning grounds and hatcheries. Read More...