The following weekly news summary was compiled by the Congressional Research Service from a variety of information sources. New info and changes since 4/24/98 are bracketed {...} New info and changes since 4/30/98 double-bracketed {{...}}
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{WA PUD Agreement.
An agreement among the Douglas County Public Utility District (PUD), the Chelan County PUD, NMFS, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the WA Dept. of Fish and Wildlife, and the Colville, Yakima, and Umatilla Tribes to aid salmon recovery is tentatively scheduled for signing on June 12, 1998. The agreement formalizes the completion of negotiation on a habitat conservation plan by the PUDs to guarantee that their three dams will have no net impact on migrating salmon and steelhead trout. The PUDs intend to employ fish bypass systems and water spills, replacement of lost fish with hatchery fish, and improve fish habitat. Chelan County PUD will pay $35 million for habitat improvements, while Douglas County PUD will pay $10 million.} [Assoc Press]
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On Apr. 29, 1998, U.S. District Judge Barbara J. Rothstein ruled that NMFS failed to assure that the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management were adequately protecting endangered sea-run cutthroat trout and their habitat in the Umpqua River drainage from the effects of logging, and revoked NMFS approval of two dozen timber sales in southern OR. No injunction was issued by Judge Rothstein.} [Assoc Press]
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On Apr. 28, 1998, the Governors of ID, WA, OR, and MT were scheduled to meet in Olympia, WA, to discuss mutual concerns with salmon recovery and management.} [Assoc Press]
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On Apr. 27, 1998, the General Accounting Office released a report entitled "Corps of Engineers' Actions to Assist Salmon in the Columbia River Basin" (GAO/RCED-98-100). GAO found that 19 of 47 fish recovery projects by the Corps had experienced delays, cost increases, or both; cost increases on 9 projects totaled more than $20 million.} [Assoc Press]
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In late April 1998, the OR Small Woodlands Assoc. and the OR Forest Industries Council released a report, including findings that as much as 44% of OR's west side private timber acreage could not be logged under NMFS's February 1998 proposals for modifying OR logging practices to help restore Coast Range coho salmon.} [Assoc Press]
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On Apr. 15-16, 1998, U.S. and Canadian negotiators began a second round of discussions in Vancouver, BC, on how to cooperatively manage salmon and allocate harvest for the 1998 season. Interim arrangements are being sought by June 1998. Talks are scheduled to continue in Portland, OR, on May 11, 1998. [Assoc Press, Reuters]
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In mid-April 1998, King County (WA) Superior Court Judge Philip Hubbard Jr. ruled that WA Dept. of Fish and Wildlife's environmental impact statement for the proposed $4.5 million Grandy Creek steelhead trout hatchery in the Skagit River basin was biased and incomplete. The EIS was faulted for failure to adequately disclose risks to wild fish from the proposed hatchery operation and for the quick dismissal of alternatives to the hatchery production.} [Assoc Press]
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In mid-April 1998, NMFS officials sent the Grants Pass Irrigation District an example of the complaint that NMFS intends to file, asking a judge to prohibit dam operation, unless the District agrees by late April 1998 to remove the dam on the Rogue River, OR. The complaint also would seek a ruling that diversion of water from the river constitutes a "take" of threatened coho salmon under the Endangered Species Act.
On Apr. 22, 1998, NMFS filed a petition in U.S. District Court seeking an injunction to halt irrigation operations associated with the Savage Rapids Dam, on the Rogue River, OR, until the Grants Pass Irrigation District complies with the Endangered Species Act. NMFS negotiations with the Irrigation District to improve anadromous salmon and trout passage at this dam have been unsuccessful. [Assoc Press, NOAA press release]
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On Apr. 10, 1998, Superior Court Judge Peter Michalski rejected the petitions of two Seattle-area salmon processors to be dropped as defendants in the $1 billion Bristol Bay fishermen's antitrust class action case. On Apr. 14, 1998, an Anchorage attorney announced that one of the Japanese companies charged in this case has offered $6.25 million to settle all claims against it. Court approval of the settlement is required. [Assoc Press] Back to top or back to home page or back to Whats New On Apr. 10, 1998, the Pacific Fishery Management Council adopted restrictive salmon seasons for 1998, with no harvest of coho salmon provided for areas south of the northern OR coast. North of the northern OR coast, coho and chinook quotas were reduced about 40% from 1997 harvests. At the Columbia River mouth, sport fishermen will be able to keep only specially marked hatchery coho salmon. Seasons for chinook salmon are a patchwork along the coast to protect proposed and listed populations and to reduce the incidental harvest of coho salmon. [Assoc Press] Back to top or back to home page or back to Whats New On Apr. 8, 1998, NMFS officials notified Nez Perce tribal officials of a proposed cut in the allowable tribal harvest of Snake River "B-run" steelhead trout, listed under the Endangered Species Act as a threatened species, from 20% of the returning adults to a maximum of 7% of the returning adults. This is likely to dramatically limit the fishery for fall chinook salmon, where steelhead trout are taken incidentally. [Assoc Press] Back to top or back to home page or back to Whats New On Apr. 1, 1998, WA Governor Gary Locke signed a package of seven bills into state law related to salmon, including measures creating a Governor's Salmon Recovery Office, a framework for salmon habitat restoration, a scientific review panel for salmon recovery plans, a streamlined permit process for volunteer salmon restoration projects, a required marking program to distinguish hatchery chinook salmon, and a program for planting salmon eggs in streams where wild salmon have disappeared. Together, these measures provide about $36 million for salmon protection and restoration activities. [Assoc Press]
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Bristol Bay Price-Fixing Lawsuit.
1998 Commercial and Sport Salmon Fishery.
Tribal Steelhead Harvest.
WA Salmon Restoration.
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