1. PRELIMINARY PATH RESULTS FAVOR DRAWDOWN Posted on Wednesday, October 01, 2003 (PST)

Scientists charged with evaluating alternatives for Snake River salmon recovery released this week revised results showing better survival of spring/summer chinook from "natural river" or drawdown conditions than from transportation around the dams in barges. These results are still preliminary, said David Marmorek, the technical facilitator of the working group of scientists called PATH (Plan for Analyzing and Testing Hypotheses). "Further changes are likely," ... Read More...

2. FRAMEWORK MEETINGS CREATE MANAGEMENT QUESTIONS Posted on Wednesday, October 01, 2003 (PST)

Despite an ongoing debate about management structure, the Northwest Power Planning Council went ahead Wednesday with its plan to pursue funding to develop a comprehensive framework it hopes will guide Columbia Basin fish and wildlife recovery efforts. The letter signed by Chairman John N. Etchart asks that the Bonneville Power Administration allocate $894,500 from the fiscal year 1998 direct Fish and Wildlife Program budget for phase 1 of the project. Initial costs would include the ... Read More...

3. FEDS SAY HARVESTABLE RUNS FOR TRIBES THE GOAL Posted on Wednesday, October 01, 2003 (PST)

The federal government's goal for Columbia Basin salmon recovery is not just meeting the mandate of the Endangered Species Act, but also ensuring salmonid populations reach a level of sustainable harvest for Indian tribes, says Terry Garcia, the Assistant Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere at the Department of Commerce. In addition, tribal fishing rights will receive "priority" over other river interests, Garcia said in a July 21 letter to Ted Strong, executive director ... Read More...

4. RIVER USERS, FEDS SPLIT ON SMITH PROPOSAL Posted on Wednesday, October 01, 2003 (PST)

PENDLETON, OR-At a Senate subcommittee field hearing Tuesday, river users and agricultural interests endorsed Oregon Republican Sen. Gordon Smith's legislation mandating that an industry-oriented advisory group be included in the Three Sovereigns pact or any other "memorandum of agreement" regarding management of the Columbia/Snake River Basin. But representatives of federal agencies, tribes, the state of Oregon and the sportfishing industry expressed skepticism that ... Read More...

5. UMATILLA TRIBES SEEK CHANGES AT MCNARY Posted on Wednesday, October 01, 2003 (PST)

Army Corps of Engineers fish transportation operations at McNary Dam will continue as originally scheduled despite tribal demands that spill be incorporated to move subyearling chinook downstream. Rising water temperatures and their potential effect on fish mortality produced the concerns. The issue erupted following a sharp rise in fish mortality in McNary's transportation collection system during the period from July 10-12 when 34,905 juvenile fish died at the ... Read More...

6. THREE SOVEREIGNS PREPARE MOA, BUDGET Posted on Wednesday, October 01, 2003 (PST)

The Three Sovereigns Process took a step toward reality Thursday when an "interim" committee met, selected a chairman, discussed budget alternatives and set a date for launching its ratification process. The first task of the interim committee-composed of four state, four federal and four tribal representatives -- is a final, fine-tuning of the document that will guide its actions. That "Memorandum of Agreement for Three Sovereigns' Governance of the Columbia River ... Read More...

7. MCGINTY, GORTON ISSUE BATTLING OP-EDS Posted on Wednesday, October 01, 2003 (PST)

In an opinion piece published last week in The Seattle Times, the Clinton Administration's top environment official sharply criticized legislative language crafted by Washington Republican Sen. Slade Gorton that would limit the ability of federal agencies to modify the Columbia/Snake River hydropower system without congressional authorization. And this week, Gorton fired back with op-ed of this own, saying "no one can tell whoppers like the Clinton Administration." Gorton, ... Read More...

8. KEMPTHORNE PUSHES FUNDING FOR NEW TURBINES Posted on Wednesday, October 01, 2003 (PST)

The Senate's proposed Water Resources Development Act includes an amendment by Sen. Dirk Kempthorne, R-Idaho, that would authorize continued funding for the development, installation and testing of "fish-friendly turbines" at the Columbia/Snake River dams. Kempthorne's amendment also authorizes funding for a "gene bank" for threatened and endangered fish and directs the federal government to reduce bird predation on salmon and steelhead smolts in the lower ... Read More...

9. SMITH DEFENDS CORPS FISH BUDGET Posted on Wednesday, October 01, 2003 (PST)

With the Senate's 1999 Energy and Water Development Appropriations bill heading to conference committee with the House, Senator Gordon Smith, R-Oregon, is urging his colleagues "retain the Senate-passed funding level for the Army Corps of Engineers fish and wildlife mitigation measures on the Columbia River." But Smith says he would support expanded scientific review fish mitigation projects. The Senate bill calls for $95 million in 1999 for the Corps' Columbia River Fish Read More...

10. NMFS LISTS OREGON COHO AS THREATENED Posted on Wednesday, October 01, 2003 (PST)

The National Marine Fisheries Service Monday (Aug. 3) listed the Oregon coastal coho as "threatened" under the Endangered Species Act in order to comply with a federal ruling in June. U.S. Magistrate Janice Stewart ruled the ESA does not allow NMFS to consider future, voluntary actions under the state's recovery plan as a basis for rejecting a listing. Both NMFS and the state of Oregon have appealed the decision to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Stewart had ... Read More...

11. COUNCIL, FISH MANAGERS GRAPPLE WITH PROJECT FUNDING Posted on Wednesday, October 01, 2003 (PST)

PENDLETON-An overburdened budget and differences of opinion between fish managers and scientific reviewers were among the topics of discussion Wednesday as the Northwest Power Planning Council Fish and Wildlife Committee worked toward fiscal year 1999 project funding recommendations. Project selection issues will be discussed in three more venues this month as the Council prepares to make mid-September recommendations for the $127 million direct Fish and Wildlife Program. The next is at Read More...

12. BPA's JOHANSEN TO ADDRESS POWER COUNCIL Posted on Wednesday, October 01, 2003 (PST)

PORTLAND-Newly appointed Bonneville Power Administration Administrator Judi Johansen is scheduled to address the Northwest Power Planning Council during its Wednesday meeting at the Council offices. Johansen's remarks are scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. She took over leadership of BPA earlier this summer. The Council will also continue its self-examination during its Tuesday-Wednesday session. A panel discussion on the staff-produced "Role of the Northwest Power Planning ... Read More...