EARLY SEASON FORECASTS EXPECT 2008 WATER VOLUMES NEAR AVERAGE Posted on Thursday, December 20, 2007 (PST)

Despite a relatively light early-season snowpack across the Columbia River basin, water supply forecasters are predicting that the region's streams will provide near or above average volumes for fish, hydro generation, irrigation and other uses next spring and summer. Read More...

NEZ PERCE PLAN COMMERCIAL STEELHEAD FISHING IN SNAKE, CLEARWATER Posted on Thursday, December 20, 2007 (PST)

The Nez Perce Tribe announced Wednesday that it will cash in some sweat equity, as well as a larger share of its treaty right, with commercial efforts this winter targeting steelhead on the Snake and Clearwater rivers. Read More...

COUNCIL ANALYSIS COMPARES COST OF 2004 BIOP, DRAFT 2008 BIOP Posted on Thursday, December 20, 2007 (PST)

Implementation of the draft federal Columbia/Snake river hydro system operations would cost about $25 million more per year on average than the previous strategy and could spike as high as $100 million when water is in short supply, according to preliminary analysis previewed last week by the Northwest Power and Conservation Council staff. Read More...

REVIEW RECOMMENDS CHANGES FOR COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE HATCHERIES Posted on Thursday, December 20, 2007 (PST)

A U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service hatchery report released Wednesday advises changes ranging from a reduction in the number of tule fall chinook raised at Spring Creek National Fish Hatchery to termination of upriver bright fall chinook releases at Little White Salmon hatchery to increasing access to fishing sites. Read More...

COUNCIL OKS F&W PROGRAM FUNDING TO COMPLETE BASIN HATCHERY REVIEW Posted on Thursday, December 20, 2007 (PST)

With congressional funding limbo, the Northwest Power and Conservation Council at its meeting last week recommended that $1.3 million be spent through its fish and wildlife program to complete the Columbia River Hatchery Review process. Read More...

PARTIES MOVE FORWARD ON SNAKE RIVER FALL CHINOOK 'TRANSPORTATION' STUDY Posted on Thursday, December 20, 2007 (PST)

Implementation of a Snake River fall chinook "transportation" study in 2008, and beyond, edged closer to certainty with eggs now in hand to produce the needed juvenile fish and most other related issues resolved. Read More...

WASHINGTON STATE, TRIBES AGREE ON LAKE ROOSEVELT WATER-SUPPLY PLAN Posted on Thursday, December 20, 2007 (PST)

Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire announced two agreements this week with Eastern Washington tribes to deliver water from Lake Roosevelt to the Columbia Basin for farmers, cities and endangered salmon. Read More...

COLUMBIA RIVER SMELT NUMBERS PLUNGE; COWLITZ TRIBE SEEKS ESA LISTING Posted on Thursday, December 20, 2007 (PST)

The New Year will start with a limited opportunity in lower Columbia River tributaries to catch smelt, with return numbers projected to be at a low ebb. Read More...

LOWER COLUMBIA STURGEON HARVEST ALLOCATION PARED BACK Posted on Thursday, December 20, 2007 (PST)

A lower white sturgeon harvest will be allowed on the lower Columbia River because recreational fisheries this year hauled in more of the big fish than Oregon-Washington guidelines allow, according to state fishery officials. Read More...

BPA PROPOSES INTERIM PAYMENTS DURING WORK ON RESIDENTIAL EXCHANGE PLAN Posted on Thursday, December 20, 2007 (PST)

The Bonneville Power Administration is proposing interim payments totaling $322 million to Northwest public and investor-owned utilities while the agency continues to work with the region to establish a long-term Residential Exchange Program. Read More...