Salmon and Hydro: An Account Of Litigation 1991-2009
November 24th, 2020
In 2009, the Columbia Basin Bulletin produced the 77-page e-book “SALMON AND HYDRO: An Account of Litigation over Federal Columbia River Power System Biological Opinions for Salmon and Steelhead, 1991-2009.” We are making the book available to CBB members.
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States, Tribes, PacifiCorp Sign MOA To Resolve FERC Concerns, Keep Klamath Dams’ Removal Alive (Largest Dam Removal In US History)
November 20th, 2020
The states of Oregon and California, the Yurok Tribe, the Karuk Tribe, PacifiCorp and the Klamath River Renewal Corporation signed a memorandum of agreement this week that describes how the parties will implement the amended Klamath Hydroelectric Settlement Agreement as negotiated and signed in 2016. The KHSA sets the terms for the removal of four Klamath River dams.
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Despite Covid, Wildfires, Bonneville Power FY 2020 Far Exceeded Expected Net Revenues Due To Lower Expenses, Secondary Sales During Heat Waves
November 20th, 2020
The Bonneville Power Administration’s fiscal year 2020 annual report says the agency exceeded projected net revenues by $233 million.
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GUEST COLUMN: It Doesn’t Take A Degree In Marine Biology To See Dams Are Bad For Fish
November 20th, 2020
Last July, National Geographic reported that global populations of migratory fish have declined by 76 percent over the past half-century. Habitat loss was cited as one of the main culprits, and dams as a major cause of habitat loss. This type of cause and effect in worldwide decline holds true in the Pacific Northwest. It doesn’t take a degree in marine biology to see that dams are bad for fish. But it might take someone with a PhD to convince you that salmon don’t need rivers.
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Study Shows All West Coast Chinook In Decline Whether River Dammed, Undammed; Cites Ocean Conditions As Key Cause
November 12th, 2020
A recent study shows that all stocks of chinook salmon are declining along the West Coast at about the same rate and concludes that habitat and dams are not the likely culprits. It’s something far more out of our control: The ocean.
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Missing Data: Covid, High Spill, Low Fish Detection Results In Lack Of 2020 Juvenile Salmonid Survival Estimates From Upstream Dams To Below Bonneville
November 12th, 2020
Every year about this time, NOAA Fisheries releases a memo detailing preliminary survival estimates for passage of spring-migrating juvenile salmonids through Snake and Columbia River dams – key data for assessing the impact of federal hydropower operations on 13 species of salmon and steelhead listed under the Endangered Species Act. This year, however, due to Covid-19 impacts and more spill for fish, that data took a hit.
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Corps Modifies Operations At Willamette Valley Dam To Improve Juvenile Salmon Passage As Court Case Continues On ‘Remedies’ For Wild Salmon/Steelhead
November 12th, 2020
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is modifying operations at the Willamette Valley’s Detroit Dam to improve juvenile salmon downstream passage survival by releasing water exclusively through the upper regulating outlets when downstream passage rates are high.
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Science Panel Would Like To See Fish Passage Center’s Annual Salmon Survival Report Include ‘Impact Report’ Communicating Key Messages
November 12th, 2020
The Fish Passage Center’s annual Comparative Survival Study, providing smolt-to-adult return data and analysis for Columbia/Snake River salmon and steelhead for 25 years, should include an “impact report” to communicate “the most critical take-home messages” for policymakers.
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Columbia Basin Partnership Releases Final Report Stressing Urgency In Addressing Salmon, Steelhead Recovery
October 30th, 2020
The Columbia Basin Partnership Task Force released late this afternoon its final report saying there is “a strong sense of urgency that immediate action is needed to address salmon and steelhead declines in the Columbia River Basin.”