The following weekly news summary was compiled by the Congressional Research Service from a variety of information sources. New info and changes since 3/3/2000 are bracketed {...} New info and changes since 3/9/2000 are double-bracketed {{...}} The following weekly news summary was compiled by the Congressional Research Service from a variety of information sources. New info and changes since 3/3/2000 are bracketed {...} New info and changes since 3/9/2000 are double-bracketed {{...}}
Cleve Steward
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SALMON ALONG THE PACIFIC COAST
{Fish-Friendly Turbines?
On Mar. 7, 2000, Army Corps of Engineers officials announced that, upon testing, a new $1.25 million "fish-friendly" turbine at Bonneville Dam fell somewhat short of anticipated levels of salmon protection, improving juvenile salmon survival by 2-3%. Nine additional "fish-friendly" turbines are planned for Bonneville Dam.} [Portland Oregonian]
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Elwha River Dams.
In early March 2000, titles to the Elwha and Glines Canyon dams were transferred from the Fort James Paper Co. And Daishowa America Inc. to the U.S. National Park Service. Pending further review, the dams are being operated by the Bureau of Reclamation for power production. [Dept. of the Interior press release, Trout Unlimited press release, Assoc Press]
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Pacific Salmon Treaty.
On Mar. 2, 2000, British Columbia's Fisheries Minister Corky Evans announced that the BC government was dropping its appeal in U.S. federal court in a September 1997 lawsuit challenging U.S. implementation of the Pacific Salmon Treaty. BC took this action to signal an intent to improve cooperation with the United States. [Canadian Press, Assoc Press]
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Theodosia River Dam.
On Feb. 28, 2000, British Columbia officials announced the conclusion of an agreement with Pacifica Papers Inc. to demolish a 292-foot long dam across the Theodosia River. This would be the first large Canadian dam to be removed, and would benefit coho, pink, and chum salmon populations entering Georgia Strait. [Environment News Service]
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Enloe Dam.
In late February 2000, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission rescinded the license for the Enloe Dam project on the Similkameen River in Okanogan County, WA, after a challenge from NMFS and imposition of a fish passage requirement. [Environment News Service]
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Salmon Recovery Critique.
On Feb. 24, 2000, two retired high-ranking federal officials (Fish and Wildlife Service and Forest Service) are scheduled to speak at a press breakfast at American Rivers, Washington, DC, to give an "insider's" perspective on why past efforts to save salmon have failed. [American Rivers press release]
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Bristol Bay Salmon Lawsuit.
On Feb. 24, 2000, AK fishermen plan to file an appeal of an earlier Superior Court decision with the AK Supreme Court, concerning a lawsuit over price-fixing claims against Japanese salmon importers by more than 5,000 commercial fishermen. [Anchorage Daily News]
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Klamath Fishery.
On Feb. 23-25, 2000 (Brookings, OR) and Mar. 5, 2000 (Sacramento, CA), the Klamath Fishery Management Council is scheduled to meet to develop recommendations for salmon harvest management for year 2000.
Recommendations will be forwarded to the Pacific Fishery Management Council. [U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service press release]
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Water Flow Lawsuit.
On Feb. 22, 2000, a coalition of environmental and commercial fishing interests filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court, demanding federal agencies to increase water flow in the Snake and Columbia Rivers to benefit salmon migration. The lawsuit alleges that the Army Corps of Engineers and the Bureau of Reclamation have failed to meet minimum flows necessary for salmon survival set by NMFS. To attain these flows, agencies would have to use water now allocated to ID farmers for irrigation. [Assoc Press]
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AAAS Symposium.
On Feb. 21, 2000, a symposium "Scientific Advice for Endangered Species Recovery" was held at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) in Washington, DC. The symposium focused on the adequacy of science to address salmon issues. [Seattle Times]
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Salmon Media Briefing.
On Feb. 16, 2000, the National Sea Grant College Program is hosting a 2-hour special media briefing on "Public Choices, Science, and Salmon: Scientific Efforts to Aid Salmon in the Pacific Northwest" at the National Press Club, Washington, DC. [National Sea Grant College Program]
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WA Salmon Management.
On Feb. 16, 2000, King County Executive Ron Sims announced that, in response to a joint request from the Seattle, Everett, and Tacoma Mayors, he was delaying initial steps toward a proposed regional plan to manage water.
On Feb. 22, 2000, the WA Dept. of Ecology held a forum in Mercer Island, to release a new proposal on revised guidelines for managing development of shoreline property under the state's Shoreline Management Act. These revisions are complicated by the fact that WA officials are uncertain about the effect of building docks and bulkheads might have on ESA-listed salmon; WA officials are working with NMFS to determine what requirements should be included to comply with the ESA. These revisions are to be completed by July 23, 2000, with a series of public hearings scheduled for May 2000. [Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Seattle Times]
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Dam Breaching.
On Feb. 15, 2000, representatives of Indian tribes and commercial gillnetters met in Astoria, OR, to form an alliance to demand that the federal government remove 4 lower Snake River hydroelectric dams.
In addition, the tribes were reported to be supportive of federal aid to irrigators, barge operators, and farmers who might be harmed by dam breaching.
On Feb. 17, 2000, the OR Chapter of the American Fisheries Society, a professional society of fishery scientists, voted 103-0 to adopt a resolution affirming the necessity for breaching 4 lower Snake River dams to restore wild salmon populations.
In a Feb. 18, 2000 speech at a meeting of the OR Chapter of the American Fisheries Society in Eugene, OR Governor John Kitzhaber endorsed breaching the 4 lower Snake River dams as a responsible and cost-effective option, becoming the first major elected official to endorse dam breaching.
In response on Feb. 22, 2000, WA Governor Gary Locke announced that he did not support dam breaching.
On Feb. 23, 2000, the Port of Portland released a study by HDR Engineering and commissioned by the Port and 3 OR state agencies, outlining the potential cascading negative effects of dam breaching, including the possible loss of 4 of the 6 ocean freight line serving Portland, diversion of export containers to Puget Sound ports, and removal of marginal agricultural lands in eastern OR and WA from production.
On Feb. 23, 2000, Presidential candidate John McCain was reported to have stated in Spokane, WA, that he would consider dam breaching if scientific evidence indicates it's necessary to save salmon.
On Feb. 28, 2000, Presidential candidate George W. Bush, speaking in Pasco, WA, promised to forestall breaching of the 4 lower Snake River dams. Radio advertisements supportive of George W. Bush called breaching "a big mistake." On Feb. 29, 2000, NM Rep. Tom Udall was reported to have written a letter to President Clinton, becoming the first Member of Congress to publically endorse breaching the 4 lower Snake River dams. {{On Mar. 9, 2000, and for the second year in a row, the environmental group American Rivers named the Snake River in WA as the nation's most endangered river and called on the Clinton Administration to breach the 4 hydroelectric dams to aid salmon recovery efforts.}} [Assoc Press, Portland Oregonian, MSNBC, American Rivers press release]
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Dredging Lawsuit.
On Feb. 14, 2000, a coalition of 5 environmental organizations filed suit if U.S. District Court (Seattle, WA) against NMFS, challenging NMFS's December 1999 approval of a Corps of Engineers permit for a $196 million dredging project to deepen a 100-mile stretch of the Columbia River shipping channel.. The groups are fearful that this project would harm endangered salmon. [Environment News Service, Assoc Press]
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CA Steelhead Coalition.
On Feb. 14, 2000, a coalition of 33 fishing, surfing, and environmental groups held a news conference to announce the creation of the Southern California Steelhead Recovery Coalition, an organization that will lobby to increase protection for steelhead trout. The Coalition's 10-point action plan includes the removal of Matilija and Rindge Dams, more funding for steelhead research, Endangered Species Act protection for all rainbow trout in coastal streams, and NMFS reclassification of spawning grounds above dams as critical habitat. [Los Angeles Times]
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Critical Habitat Designation.
On Feb. 7, 2000, NMFS officials signed a final designation of critical habitat for 19 populations of salmon and steelhead trout in WA, OR, ID, and CA, in compliance with a court-ordered stay in a lawsuit by the OR Natural Resources Council. The final rule designating this habitat was published on Feb. 16, 2000. [personal communication]
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Salmon Management Options.
From Feb. 3 through Mar. 8, 2000, a total of 13 public hearings are scheduled by Bonneville Power Administration and 8 other federal agencies across OR, WA, ID, MT, and AK on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Draft Lower Snake River Juvenile Salmon Migration Feasibility Report/Environmental Impact Statement and the Federal Caucus Conservation of Columbia Basin Fish "All-H Paper" http://www.bpa.gov/Power/PL/FederalCaucus/fcspl.shtml ] presenting options for altering harvest, hatcheries, habitat, and hydroelectric dams. The initial hearing on Feb. 3, 2000, in Portland, OR, was attended by at least 1,000 people. [Assoc. Press]
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