The following weekly news summary was compiled by the Congressional Research Service from a variety of information sources.
Cleve Steward Sustainable Fisheries Foundation Tel. 425-670-3584
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On Dec. 2, 1998, the Northwest PowerPlanning Council's Independent Scientific Advisory Board reported to the Council that, upon review, the Columbia River salmon hatchery system is not operating correctly, and has produced weak fish runs that undermined wild salmon populations. The Advisory Board offered 21 recommendations to improve the hatchery system, including use of large breeding populations to maintain genetic diversity, developing facilities engineered to simulate the natural stream, and elimination of stock transfers whereby non-native species are introduced. The Advisory Board's report is to be reviewed at a workshop in January 1999, followed by public meetings in March and April 1999, with recommendations submitted to Congress in May 1999.}} [Sacramento Bee]
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On Nov. 17-19, 1998, the Northwest Power Planning Council (NPPC) held a public workshop in Portland, OR, on their Multispecies Framework Project to begin work on devising a new, unified, science-based, decision-making policy framework for Columbia River fish recovery. [NPPC press release]
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On Nov. 9, 1998, the Army Corps of Engineers held the first of five scheduled public information meetings in Lewiston, ID, on the Corps study of options for restoring Snake River salmon and steelhead trout, including major system improvements or breaching the four lower Snake River dams. Additional meetings were scheduled for Portland, OR; Richland, WA (Nov. 12, 1998); Boise, ID (Nov. 19, 1998); and Spokane, WA (Nov. 23, 1998).
The Corps study is to be completed by the end of April 1999.
On Nov. 19, 1998, Corps officials were reported to have announced preliminary estimates of dam breaching costs -- $150 million to $360 million annually for replacing power lost, as much as $60 million annually for additional transportation of agricultural crops, and $8.6 million to $20.8 million annually for water supply impacts including loss of farmland. An annual saving of about $25 million would result from not operating the four dams. [Assoc Press]
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On Nov. 6, 1998, the OR Water Resources Commission voted to revoke the Grants Pass Irrigation District's supplemental water permit for Savage Rapids Dam on the Rogue River, OR. [Assoc Press]
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In early November 1998, the WA Forest Practices Board approved an emergency rule requiring additional environmental review before loggers can harvest trees or build roads within 200 feet of fish-bearing streams in critical habitat areas. This rule applies to all WA lands in the Columbia and Snake River watershed. [Assoc Press]
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In early November 1998, the Northwest Power Planning Council (NPPC) agreed to a request from the Columbia Basin Fish and Wildlife Authority for a Bonneville Power Administration contribution of $235,000 toward one-time, emergency expenses necessary for efforts to relocate a nesting colony of Caspian terns from Rice Island to East Sand Island, to reduce tern predation on juvenile salmon. [NPPC Congressional Update]
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In early November 1998, the City of Portland, OR, and Portland General Electric (PGE) were reportedly close to agreement on removal of PGE's Little Sandy Dam on the Little Sandy River to improve steelhead trout and salmon habitat. [Assoc Press]
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On Nov. 4, 1998, federal managers agreed to increase water flow in the Columbia River below Bonneville Dam, based on anticipation of a wet winter, to increase spawning habitat for non-listed salmon populations using this area. If winter conditions become drier, alternative options will be explored and flow may have to be diminished. [Bonneville Power Administration press release]
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On Nov. 3-4, 1998, NMFS and several other federal agencies participated in Snake River Basin Water Rights Adjudication before an ID state court. The U.S. Dept. of Justice had filed water rights claims on behalf of federal agencies and the Nez Perce Tribe, seeking sufficient water flow to support salmon runs. [personal communication]
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On Nov. 3, 1998, the Canadian Press reported that a confidential 81-page Canadian parliamentary Commons Committee report on west coast salmon fisheries recommends that the federal Dept. of Fisheries and Oceans be restructured to better manage west coast fisheries, that more funds be provided for scientific research on fisheries, that immediate action be taken against the United States to preserve coho salmon and conclude a treaty on Pacific salmon, that a salmon license buyback program be continued to reduce fishing fleet size, and that increased aboriginal participation in the commercial fishery be achieved by buying and transferring commercial licenses to Native fishermen. [Canadian Press]
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On Nov. 3, 1998, NOAA held a groundbreaking ceremony for a $4.6 million habitat restoration project along the Lower Duwamish River, WA. The project will focus on 16.5 acres at the former site of Seaboard Lumber, and serve as a model for restoration projects in urban industrial waterways. [NOAA press release]
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