Climate, Streamflow Predictions For Winter 2008-2009? Hard To Say Posted on Wednesday, May 27, 2009 (PST)

Two years ago "El Nino" signals stood out. Last fall it was "La Nina." And for this year? La Nada, according to forecasters gathered Thursday to discuss how forecasted climate conditions for the winter of 2008-2009 may affect regional climate and streamflow conditions in the Columbia River Basin and western Washington and Oregon in the summer of 2009. Read More...

Washington Joins Feds' Side In BiOp Case; Agencies 'Have Done What We Asked Them To Do' Posted on Wednesday, May 27, 2009 (PST)

The state of Washington this week officially joined the legal defense of the latest federal Columbia/Snake river hydro system salmon protection plan. Read More...

River Managers Balance Salmon Survival Project At Dalles With Bonneville Chum Flows Posted on Wednesday, May 27, 2009 (PST)

The lower Columbia River's "chum flow" balancing act could become even more difficult with the recognition of a new hydro system management constraint in the form of another project intended to help improve salmon survival -- the construction of a $45 million spillway wall at The Dalles Dam. Read More...

Portland Approves $93 Million Bull Run Water Supply Habitat Conservation Plan Posted on Wednesday, May 27, 2009 (PST)

The city of Portland this week agreed to use about $93 million in water ratepayer funds over the next 50 years to implement salmon restoration actions that assure continued operation of its Bull Run water supply system avoids and/or minimizes impacts to species listed under the Endangered Species Act. Read More...

Report Outlines Concerns About NW Wave Energy Impacts On Marine Environment Posted on Wednesday, May 27, 2009 (PST)

The development of wave energy facilities off the coast of Oregon could have significant impacts on the physical ocean and the ecological communities it supports, according to a newly published report, but most of those impacts are only beginning to be studied. Read More...

Report To Congress Forecasts Shortage Of Marine Stock Assessment Scientists Posted on Wednesday, May 27, 2009 (PST)

The federal departments of Commerce and Education are forecasting a serious shortage of scientists trained to do the high-quality research required to rebuild fish stocks and restore marine species in the next decade. Read More...

Higher Than Expected Fall Chinook Return Gives Tribes More Fishing Time Posted on Tuesday, May 26, 2009 (PST)

A higher-than-anticipated 2008 run of upriver fall chinook salmon has allowed tribal commercial fishers to stretch their Columbia River mainstem harvest through this week. Read More...

Idaho Approves Snake River Fall Chinook Fishing; 6,500 Fish Expected Above Lewiston Posted on Tuesday, May 26, 2009 (PST)

The Idaho Fish and Game Commission Wednesday morning approved a fall chinook harvest season on the Snake River -- the first such season in decades. Read More...

Lake Pend Oreille Winter Lake Operations Aimed At Benefiting Kokanee, Bull Trout Posted on Tuesday, May 26, 2009 (PST)

Lake Pend Oreille continues falling to its winter level with increased outflows that began Thursday, says the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Reservoir Control Center in Seattle. Read More...

CBB Shorts: Posted on Tuesday, May 26, 2009 (PST)

CBB Shorts: Festival Celebrates Sandy River Salmon; Hungry Horse Dam Seismic Studies; Willamette Chinook Fishing; New BPA Corporate Strategy VP Read More...