Recent Salmon and Fish news on May 25, 1998

A Coho

Salmon Along the Pacific Coast
{OR Coho Salmon Management.
{{Puget Sound Salmon Conference.
{BC Coho Management.
Global Change and Salmon.
NMFS Salmon Policy Modifications.
Eastern WA Transportation Impacts.
WA Forest Practices Board Meeting.
OR Reopens Willamette River Fishery.
ID Fish and Game Commission Meeting.
Australian Imports of Canadian Salmon.

Bristol Bay Disaster Aid.
Pacific Salmon Treaty.
Canadian Salmon Buyback.
Savage Rapids Dam.
Columbia Channel Dredging Opposition.
Timber and Cutthroat Trout.
Governors Meeting on Salmon.
GAO Salmon Report.
Logging-Salmon Study.
Freshwater Fisheries
Cutthroat Trout ESA Petitions.

The following weekly news summary was compiled by the Congressional Research Service from a variety of information sources. New info and changes since 5/15/98 are bracketed {...} New info and changes since 5/21/98 double bracketed {{...}}

Cleve Steward Sustainable Fisheries Foundation Tel. 425-670-3584

Salmon Along the Pacific Coast

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, Yakama, 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]

{OR Coho Salmon Management.

On May 20, 1998, OR Governor John Kitzhaber issued a report on the first year's achievements by state coho salmon restoration efforts, noting that 400 miles of stream had been opened to salmon spawning by fixing culverts.

In addition, 80% of the 2,300 miles of coastal streams surveyed were found to be of sufficient quality to support coho salmon.} [Assoc Press]

{{Puget Sound Salmon Conference.

On May 19, 1998, a conference entitled "Salmon in the City" was held in the Seattle-Tacoma, WA, region to consider salmon management and restoration in an urban environment.}} [Assoc Press]

{BC Coho Management.

On May 19, 1998, a final report was issued by the Canadian Dept. of Fisheries and Oceans "coho salmon response team" to Fisheries Minister David Anderson recommending substantial reductions in the exploitation rate of coho salmon or even a complete ban on all fishing for coho salmon during the 1998 season.

In northern British Columbia, the maximum harvest was recommended as no greater than 6% of the entire stock.} {{On May 21, 1998, Canadian Fisheries Minister David Anderson banned all sport, commercial, and aboriginal fishing for coho salmon, and restricted fishing for other salmon species to minimize incidental catch of coho salmon that spawn in BC's Skeena and Thompson Rivers.

In late May 1998, representatives of all BC coho salmon fishing interests are scheduled to meet to discuss coho salmon conservation measures. A detailed management plan is scheduled to be presented in June 1998, indicating closures necessary to protect coho stocks.}} [Assoc Press, Dow Jones News, Reuters]

Global Change and Salmon.

On May 19, 1998, the U.S. Global Change Research Program Seminar series presented "Potential Consequences of Global Warming for the Northwestern US: Water Resources and Marine Ecosystems" including a discussion of potential effects on salmon populations -- 628 Dirksen Senate Office Bldg. at 3:15 pm. [personal communication]

NMFS Salmon Policy Modifications.

On May 14, 1998, NMFS released a supplemental biological opinion stating that it will require increased water spills at federal dams to benefit salmon migration during 1998, and transport fewer juvenile salmon downstream in barges and trucks. This summer, barge and truck transport will be limited to no more than 50% of the juvenile steelhead trout, rather than the 70% to 90% transported in the past. Bonneville Power Administration responded by announcing its acceptance of the increased spill requirements, with projected power generating revenue losses of $15 million to $20 million annually. [Dow Jones News, Assoc Press]

Eastern WA Transportation Impacts.

On May 13, 1998, a six-year, $1 million "Eastern Washington Intermodal Transportation Study" was released at a state- sponsored Moses Lake, WA, forum, with a key topic being how to deal with the increased truck traffic that would likely result from dam breaching or drawdown to benefit salmon recovery, and anticipated costs of such measures. [Assoc Press]

WA Forest Practices Board Meeting.

On May 13, 1998, the WA Forest Practices Board met and adopted, by divided voice vote, a series of temporary (120 days), emergency timber-harvest reduction measures for riparian areas in the Columbia River basin, from the Cowlitz River upstream to the Wenatchee and Methow Rivers. These actions were taken in response to recent steelhead trout listings under the Endangered Species Act. If logging occurs within 100 feet of a steelhead stream, such operations would be subject to review under WA's Environmental Policy Act. Additional restrictions are imposed on road building and maintenance. Maintenance of tree shading at non-fish bearing streams is required to ensure watershed temperatures do not rise too high. [Assoc Press]

OR Reopens Willamette River Fishery.

On May 7, 1998, the OR Dept. of Fish and Wildlife decided to reopen the sport fishery for spring chinook salmon on the Willamette River, citing a better return of fish than predicted.

On May 6, 1998, the run forecast was increased from 33,700 to 42,000 returning adult salmon. Heavy returns of "jack" salmon (prematurely returning juveniles) also are suggesting that the adult spawning return in 1999 may improve. [Assoc Press]

ID Fish and Game Commission Meeting.

On May 7, 1998, the ID Fish and Game Commission held a daylong discussion in Lewiston, ID, on salmon and steelhead trout restoration measures. At this meeting, the Commission endorsed more natural river conditions for migrating salmon and steelhead trout, without specifically mentioning breaching of the four lower Snake River dams. [Assoc Press]

Australian Imports of Canadian Salmon.

On May 6, 1998, Australian officials released selected details of a World Trade Organization dispute panel ruling on Australia's ban on the import of salmon from Canada.

On May 8, 1998, Canadian officials responded to assert that the WTO panel found Australia's ban to be inconsistent with WTO standards, and recommended the WTO request Australia bring its measures into conformity. [Dow Jones News, Reuters]

Bristol Bay Disaster Aid.

In early May 1998, AK state legislators debated whether the state's general fund should provide $1.8 million in matching funds required to secure federal disaster aid for Bristol Bay communities suffering from a low 1997 salmon harvest. Legislators from other regions where fishery income was reported as even lower than Bristol Bay's suggested that rural communities in the Bristol Bay region should provide the matching funds.

In a compromise, state funds earmarked for rural Bristol Bay communities were to be considered the matching funds.

On May 10, 1998, the AK House agreed with an amended Senate measure that would eliminate $1.8 million in state matching funds for federal disaster aid for Bristol Bay communities. {On May 15, 1998, Governor Tony Knowles signed this measure into law.} [Assoc Press]

Pacific Salmon Treaty.

In early May 1998, a member of Canada's negotiating team called for the continued involvement of U.S. and Canadian special envoys (William Ruckelshaus and David Strangway, respectively) in the negotiating process.

In early May 1998, five southeast AK communities contributed funds to the Pacific Salmon Treaty Coalition, a group organizing a $160,000 public relations effort on behalf of southeast AK salmon fishermen. Negotiations continued in Portland, OR, on May 11-15, 1998.

On May 14, 1998, British Columbia Premier Glen Clark recalled BC's negotiating team from the negotiations in Portland, OR, claiming the talks were not proceeding as recommended by the special envoys and that AK is unwilling to diminish its salmon harvest. Negotiations continued without the BC representatives. {On May 15, 1998, the latest round of negotiations concluded without an agreement. No date has been set to resume talks.} [Assoc Press, Reuters]

Canadian Salmon Buyback.

On May 4, 1998, Canadian Dept. of Fisheries and Oceans officials confirmed the development of a new program, rumored at about C$200 million to buyback licenses of British Columbia salmon fishermen, in an effort to cut the BC salmon fleet by 50%. [Assoc Press]

Savage Rapids Dam.

On May 4, 1998, the Grants Pass Irrigation District began assembling the Savage Rapids Dam, anticipating lowering stop logs into place and having the lake backed up by May 8, 1998. District officials reported that special screens will be installed to protect juvenile fish from diversions and nets will be installed to keep adult fish in fish ladders. {On May 21, 1998, a federal judge was scheduled to hold a hearing on NMFS's request for an injunction to stop the Grants Pass Irrigation District from operating Savage Rapids Dam.} [Assoc Press, NOAA press release]

Columbia Channel Dredging Opposition.

On Apr. 30, 1998, the Columbia River gillnetters group "Salmon for All" wrote to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to express concern over plans to dredge the Columbia River shipping channel 3 feet deeper from Astoria, OR, to Portland. Their concerns include smothering of crab beds or creation of nesting sanctuaries for salmon predators (e.g., Caspian terns) by dredged sand disposal. [Assoc Press]

Timber and Cutthroat Trout.

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]

Governors Meeting on Salmon.

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]

GAO Salmon Report.

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]

Logging-Salmon Study.

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 westside 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]

Freshwater Fisheries

{Trout Hatchery as Dam Mitigation.

On May 19, 1998, the Northwest Power Planning Council recommended that the Bonneville Power Administration pay $110,000 to design a hatchery to raise rainbow and Yellowstone cutthroat trout for two ID Indian reservations (Duck Valley and Fort Hall) as partial mitigation for the impact of federal dams on the Snake River.} [Assoc Press]

Cutthroat Trout ESA Petitions.

In early May 1998, several environmental groups petitioned the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to add the Bonneville, West Slope, and Rio Grande subspecies of cutthroat trout to the federal list of threatened and endangered species. [Assoc Press]