A message from the 'aquacon' discussion list. The following news summaries were compiled by Gene Buck, Senior Analyst in the Congressional Research Service. Capital letters denote new information that did not appear in previous summaries.
Cleve Steward Sustainable Fisheries Foundation csteward@wolfenet.com
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Salmon Habitat Restoration. The May 1997 issue of Fisheries is reported to be publishing the results of a study by three Pacific Northwest fishery scientists concluding that few in-stream habitat enhancement projects have resulted in any long-term success for the fish. To succeed, such efforts must be combined with restoration of ecological processes within the entire watershed. [Assoc Press]
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The Pacific Fishery Management Council will decide among 4 options for managing the 1997 salmon season, including one providing no non-Indian salmon fishing off the coast of WA and northern OR, at meetings to be held Apr. 7-11, 1997, in Millbrae, CA. Other options would allow limited commercial and sport fishing for coho and chinook salmon. For the 3rd consecutive year, no coho salmon fishing would be allowed off most of OR and all of CA. [Assoc Press]
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On Apr. 4, 1997, the Salmon Executive Committee, meeting in Portland, OR, rejected a proposal from ID and Columbia River Tribes to barge no more than 42% of downstream migrating juvenile salmon and 54% of juvenile steelhead trout. As a result, at least half of the downstream migrating juvenile salmon are likely to be collected at dams and transported downstream by barge, and as much as 80-85% of juvenile steelhead trout may be transported by barge. [Assoc Press]
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On Apr. 2, 1997, Tribal officials announced an agreement with state and federal officials for the release of 8.5 million juvenile coho salmon above Bonneville Dam this spring in compliance with the 1988 Columbia River Fish Management Plan. [Assoc Press]
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On Apr. 1, 1997, letters were mailed to 6,000 Bristol Bay salmon fishermen who had driftnet and setnet permit holders between 1989 and 1995, explaining the pending $1 billion lawsuit in Alaska Superior Court charging more than 60 seafood processors and Japanese trading companies of conspiring to pay fishermen unfair low prices. [Assoc Press]
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On Apr. 1, 1997, a coalition of U.S. and Canadian conservation, fishing, and aboriginal groups announced their intention of filing a complaint on Apr. 2, 1997, asking that the North American Commission on Environmental Cooperation (an oversight panel under the North American Free Trade Agreement) investigate allegations that Canada has failed to enforce federal regulations on BC Hydro to benefit salmon and other fish. The coalition claims that, while U.S. power producers have been forced to alter operations to protect salmon, Canadian dam operation has not been similarly modified to benefit salmon. Groups in the coalition include the Aboriginal Fisheries Commission of British Columbia, the British Columbia Wildlife Federation, the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fisheries Commission, the Sierra Club, the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen's Associations, and Trout Unlimited's Spokane, WA Chapter. Specific concerns relate to how BC Hydro stores and releases water -- critics contend that BC Hydro spills water at times when it should be stored for fish rearing and stores water when it should be released to assist salmon migration. [Assoc Press, Dow Jones News]
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On Mar. 31, 1997, Judge Malcolm Marsh questioned attorneys at a hearing in U.S. District Court in Portland, OR, on the 1995 lawsuit by American Rivers, the Sierra Club, and 8 other groups against NMFS challenging implementation of NMFS's 1995 biological opinion on operation of the Columbia and Snake River hydropower system. The groups are seeking to have Judge Marsh order the drawdown of reservoirs closer to the natural pre-dam state of the river to assist juvenile salmon migration. On Apr. 3, 1997, Judge Marsh issued a 33-page opinion upholding NMFS' biological opinion and ruling that the federal salmon recovery plan was legal, and that he could not interfere with the professional judgment of NMFS. [NW Fishletter No. 30, Assoc Press]
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On Mar. 27, 1997, ID Governor Phil Batt released the state's 1997 strategy for salmon management, relying on heavy spring runoff to carry most juvenile salmon downstream and minimizing the use of barges. When the flow is at least 100,000 cubic feet per second at Lower Granite Dam, the strategy recommends that only one-third of the juveniles be barged. The strategy recommends against using reservoir water from the Clearwater River Basin or from the Snake River above Hell's Canyon to benefit fall chinook salmon. [Assoc Press]
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On Mar. 27, 1997, the WA Dept. of Fish and Wildlife released a draft report on restoration of wild salmon. The report recommended a separate management of wild and hatchery salmon, adoption and enforcement of regulations to better control catastrophic floods that damage spawning areas, enforcement of laws requiring proper culverts and other potential obstacles to salmon migration, and giving escapement for spawning priority over harvest. Ten public hearings are scheduled to be conducted on the draft during April and May, with a revised version of the draft to be acted upon by the WA Fish and Wildlife Commission. [Assoc Press] Back to top or Back to home page
By Mar. 25, 1997, NMFS was scheduled to release an opinion on whether construction of the $43 million Milltown Hill Dam, on Elk Creek near Yoncalla, OR, could harm the endangered Umpqua River cutthroat trout. The dam would block fish migration as well as destroy as much as 18 miles of stream habitat for trout and salmon. In early April 1997, NMFS released a draft biological assessment concluding that, if built, the Milltown Hill Dam would jeopardize the survival of endangered Umpqua River searun cutthroat trout by blocking fish migration to spawning areas and by releasing toxic mercury from an old mine. After review, a final biological assessment is scheduled to be issued by May 10, 1997. [Assoc Press] Back to top or Back to home page
On Mar. 20, 1997, a coalition of 8 fishing and environmental groups (including the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen's Associations, Trout Unlimited, Sierra Club, American Rivers, and others) notified the Bureau of Reclamation of their intent to sue the agency for allegedly failing to take sufficient action to manage irrigation and dam operations to protect Snake River salmon. These groups also filed a notice of intent to sue the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) for allegedly failing to ensure that Idaho Power Co. Dams did not jeopardize migrating salmon. On Mar. 26, 1997, the Columbia River Alliance (representing electric utilities, barge operators, and irrigators) filed a notice of intent to sue NMFS, the Army Corps of Engineers, the Bureau of Reclamation, and Bonneville Power Administration over equitable consideration for the economic aspects of irrigation and dam operations. [Assoc Press] Back to top or Back to home page
On Mar. 18, 1997, NMFS endorsed the Clinton Administration's Northwest Forest Plan for U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management federal lands as an excellent anchor for salmon recovery efforts in Oregon. This conclusion will allow NMFS to streamline consultation on federal projects potentially affecting species protected under the Endangered Species Act. [Assoc Press] Back to top or Back to home page
On Mar. 17, 1997, Federal Judge Malcolm Marsh is scheduled to hear arguments on the March 1996 lawsuit wherein tribal and environmental groups allege that federal managers are too slow and unfocused in pursuing salmon recovery measures. [Assoc Press] Back to top or Back to home page
In mid-March 1997, the State of Alaska released a report of a January 1997 meeting on proposals to help market AK salmon. The report stated that the AK Dept. of Fish and Game would include peak fish quality as a criteria for timing salmon harvest periods, and that the Dept. of Commerce and Economic Development would work with the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute to develop a quality grading scale. In addition, state officials would ease the inspection schedule for major processing plants and streamline reporting requirements. [Assoc Press] Back to top or Back to home page
In mid-March 1997, OR state legislators revised their funding proposal for the Governor's salmon recovery (Coastal Salmon Restoration Initiative) plan, guaranteeing the first $15 million while providing the remaining $15 million contingent upon the federal government not listing central and northern OR coastal coho under the Endangered Species Act. On Mar. 17, 1997, the OR chapter of the American Fisheries Society (AFS) wrote a letter to NMFS expressing concerns that the governor's coho salmon restoration plan does not provide necessary guidance or strength to recover coho salmon. AFS questioned the assumptions of the plan's habitat model, reliance on Oregon logging regulations to protect salmon habitat, and the absence of changes in agricultural practices such as grazing. On Mar. 18, 1997, the OR House voted 56-2 to approve the state's coho salmon recovery plan and a $30 million funding program using the state general fund if private funding is unavailable. [Assoc Press, Portland Oregonian via Greenwire] Back to top or Back to home page .
ON APR. 9, 1997, THE BRITISH COLUMBIA SALMON FARMERS ASSOCIATION RELEASED A DRAFT COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF SALMON FARMING AND CALLED ON THE BC GOVERNMENT TO LIFT THE MORATORIUM ON NEW SALMON FARMS, SINCE THE DRAFT WAS REPORTED TO HAVE CONCLUDED THAT SALMON FARMS DON'T ENDANGER WILD SALMON STOCKS. THE FINAL REPORT IS DUE IN JUNE 1997. [ASSOC PRESS] Freshwater Fisheries Back to top or Back to home page
On Apr. 9, 1997, the Colorado state Senate's Committee on Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Energy Committee approved SCR001 for consideration by the full Senate. If approved by the legislature, this measure would place a voter referendum on the Nov. 1998 statewide ballot asking if hunting and fishing should be constitutionally protected rights. [Assoc Press] .... end Part 2/3 Back to top or Back to home page
On Apr. 4, 1997, the Madison County (MT) Board of Commissioners held a two-hour hearing and unanimously voted to repeal a September 1995 ordinance prohibiting landowners from constructing fences designed to hinder fisherman access on county rights-of-way easements near bridges. After the ordinance was originally enacted, five landowners filed suit against the County, claiming the ordinance condemned a portion of their property without providing compensation. These landowners said they would drop their lawsuit if the ordinance was repealed. [Assoc Press] Back to top or Back to home page
On Mar. 31, 1997, NY Governor George Pataki announced that NY will purchase $1 million worth of public fishing access rights during the next fiscal year. The purchase would be funded by money approved by voters in the 1996 Clean Water-Clean Air Bond Act. [Assoc Press] Back to top or Back to home page
On Apr. 2, 1997, the MN Dept. of Natural Resources held the first of 7 public information meetings scheduled to explain Treaty fishing rights before the 8 Chippewa bands begin spearfishing and gillnetting on Lake Mille Lacs and 28 other central MN lakes. On Apr. 7, 1997, MN Governor Arne Carlson gave a statewide televised address during evening news broadcasts to stress the importance of avoiding tension and preventing violence in implementing treaty fishing rights. Both the MN House and Senate have approved spending $6.5 million to help with Treaty enforcement, but differ on from what account these funds are to be taken. On Apr. 9, 1997, the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ordered a stay on the exercise of Treaty fishing rights by 8 Chippewa bands in east-central MN until the Court had the opportunity to rule on the state of MN's appeal. Arguments on the appeal are scheduled for June 1997. [Assoc Press] Back to top or Back to home page
On Mar. 26, 1997, U.S. District Judge Lucius Bunton ruled that Interior Secretary Babbitt violated the Endangered Species Act in 1996 when he withdrew the proposed listing of Texas' Barton Springs salamander after state agencies agreed with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on a cooperative conservation plan for the species. [Assoc Press] Back to top or Back to home page
On Mar. 25, 1997, 2 MT conservation groups asked U.S. District Judge Robert Jones to order the Fish and Wildlife Service to immediately list bull trout as a threatened or endangered species. On Apr. 7, 1997, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service filed a brief informing Judge Jones that it will propose listing Klamath River and Columbia River bull trout populations as endangered or threatened species. [Assoc Press, NW Fishletter No. 30] Back to top or Back to home page .
On Mar. 18, 1997, state examiners released an audit of the WA Dept. of Fish and Wildlife indicating as much as $730,000 is owed the Dept., mostly from 1994 hunting and fishing license sales at retail outlets. At least 155 outlets failed to submit license revenues. [Assoc Press] Back to top or Back to home page
On Mar. 17, 1997, NMFS officials reported a dramatic decline in the amount of time sea lions have spent around Ballard Locks, WA, feeding on migration steelhead trout and salmon -- from 91 hours in the first 2 months of 1996 to only 16 minutes during the same period in 1997. NMFS believes that capturing and retaining 3 sea lions in captivity in May 1996 is responsible for the difference. [Assoc Press]
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WA Salmon Report.
Umpqua River Cutthroat Trout.
Dam Operation Lawsuits.
Northwest Forest Plan.
March 1996 Salmon Suit.
AK Salmon Marketing Proposals.
OR Coho Salmon Recovery Plan.
BC SALMON FARMERS' REPORT
Constitutional Right to Fish.
Fishing Access.
Fishing Access Purchase.
Chippewa Treaty Fishing.
Barton Springs Salamander Protection.
Bull Trout.
Uncollected Fishing License Fees
Ballard Locks Sea Lions.
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