The following weekly news summary was compiled by the Congressional Research Service from a variety of information sources. New info and changes since 9/11/98 are bracketed {...} New info and changes since 9/17/98 double bracketed {{...}}
Cleve Steward
Sustainable Fisheries Foundation
Tel. 425-670-3584
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{Folsom Dam Temperature Control.
On Sept. 15, 1998, the House passed by voice vote H.R. 4079 proposing to authorize the construction of temperature control devices at Folsom Dam, CA, to benefit the recovery of fall-run chinook salmon and steelhead trout in the American River.} [personal communication]
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On Sept. 13, 1998, Vice President Al Gore and Council on Environmental Quality Chair Katie McGinty held a town hall meeting on salmon in Seattle, WA, with the focus on the Administration's efforts to work with local and state governments on salmon restoration.} [personal communication]
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On Sept. 11, 1998, the AK Supreme Court reversed a 1996 AK Superior Court decision and ruled that the state Dept. of Fish and Game cannot be held accountable for management decisions based on incorrect information. This class action lawsuit had been filed by a group of western AK fishermen seeking damages, claiming that fishery managers misused sonar fish counts leading to an early closure of the fall Yukon River chum salmon fishery in 1994.} [Assoc Press]
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In early September 1998, U.S. District Judge Malcolm Marsh ordered NMFS to prepare a scientific assessment of migrating wild steelhead trout on the Columbia River.
In response and on Sept. 10, 1998, NMFS issued a biological opinion on Columbia River steelhead trout fisheries, recommending that incidental steelhead catch be limited to no more than 17% of the wild steelhead population.
In response and on Sept. 12, 1998, the Columbia River Compact extended and adjusted fishing times.} [Assoc Press, Portland Oregonian]
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In early September 1998, an OR state hearings officer ruled that the Grants Pass Irrigation District failed to diligently pursue efforts to remove the Savage Rapids Dam, on the Rogue River.} {{In November 1998,}} {the OR Water Resources Commission is scheduled to decide whether to revoke the supplemental water permit allowing dam operation.} {{On Sept. 17, 1998, a subcommittee of the OR Legislative Emergency Board voted 3-2 to endorse a proposal to appropriate $450,000 from watershed enhancement funds to improve fish screens on the Savage Rapids Dam as an interim measure pending dam removal. The full Board is scheduled to consider this proposal on Sept. 18. Appropriate design for the screens remains to be determined.}} [Portland Oregonian, Assoc Press]
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On Sept. 2, 1998 (Pasco, WA) and Sept. 3, 1998 (Boise, ID), the House Committee on Resources held field hearings on the role of NMFS in implementing the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and on H.R.
4335, proposing to transfer all ESA functions from NMFS to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. [personal communication]
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On Sept. 1, 1998, the first sport fishery for Yakima River fall chinook salmon in 34 years will open, in response to successful salmon recovery, restoration, and rebuilding efforts in this drainage by Yakima tribal and WA Dept. of Fish and Wildlife managers. [Assoc Press]
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On Aug. 31, 1998, the BC provincial government filed an appeal of a U.S. federal court's earlier dismissal of a case alleging the United States violated the Pacific Salmon Treaty by allowing WA and AK fishermen to overfish. [Reuters, Assoc Press]
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On Aug. 27, 1998, U.S. Dept. of Agriculture officials announced that USDA would buy $8 million worth of canned pink salmon for distribution to food assistance programs, $1 million of skinless, boneless pink salmon in four-pound pouches, and $1 million of chum salmon nuggets for wider testing of their acceptability in the National School Lunch Program. Purchases are scheduled to begin in September 1998. [Reuters, Assoc Press, AK Office of the Governor press release] Back to top or back to home page or back to Whats New On Aug. 26, 1998, disgruntled militant salmon fishermen assembled in Seymour Narrows, an extremely busy marine channel between Vancouver Island and the mainland, with 40 fishing vessels and two Indian war canoes for about 40 minutes. Fishermen, angry about Canadian federal fishery policy that has severely limited fishing time, vowed a longer protest and possible blockade unless Fisheries Minister David Anderson would meet with them. On Aug. 27, 1998, BC Premier Glen Clark announced that BC will conduct a public inquiry into Canadian federal salmon management, under the direction of former Newfoundland premier Brian Peckford. A report to the provincial government would be due by Sept. 25, 1998, and will review federal programs and expenditures as well as the effectiveness of the Pacific Salmon Commission and the U.S.-Canada Treaty. The public inquiry was to begin with a series of at least 10 public hearings, commencing on Sept. 5 in Campbell River, BC. [Assoc Press, Canadian Press, Sport Fishing Advisory Board press release] Back to top or back to home page or back to Whats New On Aug. 26, 1998, ADF&G managers began reducing subsistence fishing time on the Yukon and Tanana Rivers in response to unusually weak chum salmon returns. [Assoc Press, Anchorage Daily News] Back to top or back to home page or back to Whats New On Aug. 24, 1998, the WA Dept. of Ecology announced that it was fining the WA Dept. of Transportation (DOT) $72,000 for polluting two salmon streams at a road construction site. This was the second time in less than a year, that the DOT had been fined for violating state environmental law and damaging fish habitat at this site. The Dept. of Ecology is also investigation two additional DOT construction site accidents that appear to have also damaged fish habitat. On Sept. 1, 1998, the WA DOT was fined $36,000 for allowing liquid, oil-based asphalt to flow into two waterways and pollute salmon habitat in a June 9, 1998 incident. [Assoc Press] Back to top or back to home page or back to Whats New On Aug. 24, 1998, Secretary of Commerce William Daley announced that $7 million in federal aid was being made available to AK programs to help fishermen and communities in the Bristol Bay and Kuskokwim regions recover from low salmon returns during 1997. AK is providing $2.33 million in matching funds to obtain these federal funds that had been committed in 1997. In addition, Secretary Daley announced that NMFS is discussing the feasibility of a salmon sampling program in Asian markets to assess whether illegally harvested AK-origin salmon is appearing there under foreign labels. On Aug. 26, 1998, the Bureau of Indian Affairs released $206,000 in emergency assistance for Alaska Natives harmed by the low return and catch of Bristol Bay salmon. On Sept. 10, 1998, AK Governor Tony Knowles announced that he had been notified that a federal fishery failure would be declared by the Dept. of Commerce for western AK on Sept. 11, increasing the availability of federal assistance. {{In mid-September 1998, the Small Business Administration agreed to make available low-interest, long-term loans to provide working capital for western AK fishermen.}} [NOAA press release, Reuters, Assoc Press]
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USDA Salmon Purchase.
BC Salmon Management.
AK Salmon Season.
WA DOT Salmon Stream Pollution.
AK Salmon Disaster Assistance.
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