The following weekly news summary was compiled by the Congressional Research Service from a variety of information sources. New info and changes since 4/2/99 are bracketed {...} New info and changes since 4/8/99 double-bracketed {{...}} Cleve Steward
Sustainable Fisheries Foundation
Tel. 425-670-3584
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On Apr. 7, 1999, the Senate Committee on Appropriations' Subcommittee on Interior and the House Committee on Appropriations' Subcommittee on Interior held a 5-hour joint field hearing in WA state on funding for salmon recovery programs. [Assoc Press, Seattle Herald]
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On Apr. 6, 1999, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water and Power held an oversight field hearing in Hood River, OR, on the process for determining the future of the 4 lower Snake River dams.}}[Assoc Press]
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On Apr. 5, 1999, NMFS and FWS published notice in the Federal Register proposing, under the Endangered Species Act, a threatened listing of southwestern WA/Columbia River coastal cutthroat trout in WA and OR, and delisting of Umpqua River cutthroat trout in OR as endangered. The Umpqua River cutthroat are part of the larger threatened subpopulation proposed for listing.}[Fed. Register]
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From Apr. 1 through May 22, 1999, more than 30 northern CA rivers are to be closed by the CA Dept. of Fish and Game for the first time to all fishing to protect threatened outmigrating steelhead trout. [Assoc Press]
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On Mar. 31, 1999, a coalition of 8 commercial fishing and conservation groups filed suit in U.S. District Court (Portland, OR), charging the Corps of Engineer's operation of 4 lower Snake River dams creates temperature and dissolved nitrogen conditions lethal to threatened salmon and steelhead trout. These groups seek to force the Army Corps of Engineers to comply with the Clean Water Act.}[Earthjustice Legal Defense Fund press release, Portland Oregonian]
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On Mar. 29-30, 1999, the Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC) held public hearings on salmon management options for the 1999 season. Generally, more liberal management options are proposed, and may result in the first retention of sport-caught coho salmon in some areas since 1993. Increased coho salmon abundance may also permit more liberal commercial seasons for chinook salmon in some areas. The PFMC will decide among 3 management options on Apr. 9, 1999, in Sacramento, CA. [PFMC Council News]
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On Mar. 22, 1999, a letter bearing the signatures of more than 200 scientists was delivered to President Clinton, calling for consideration of federal dam removal in the Columbia River Basin to restore salmon and steelhead trout. These scientists expressed concern for management focused on technological solutions rather than returning to normative river conditions. Subsequently, critics questioned the appropriateness of state and federal scientists taking a public position on this issue. [Portland Oregonian]
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On Mar. 22, 1999, the Northwest Power Planning Council held a public meeting in Yakima, WA, on its draft recommendations for Congress on future hatchery operations in the Columbia River basin.
Additional public meetings will be held through Apr. 6, 1999, at other ID and OR locations. The recommendations are scheduled to be delivered to Congress in May 1999. [Assoc Press]
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On Mar. 16, 1999, the Columbia River Intertribal Fish Commission released a series of requests and suggestions for the Technical Management Team preparing a 1999 water management plan for the Columbia and Snake River drainage by Apr. 15, 1999.
Elements for modifying hydroelectric operations to benefit salmon and steelhead trout include reducing extreme fluctuations in water flow, spilling more water as opposed to passing it through turbines, and keeping more juvenile fish in the river rather than transporting them downstream by barge. [Reuters]
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On Mar. 16, 1999, NMFS announced the listing of 8 populations of Pacific Northwest salmon and steelhead trout (Puget Sound chinook, lower Columbia River chinook, Lake Ozette sockeye, Hood Canal summer chum, lower Columbia River chum, mid-Columbia steelhead, upper Willamette River chinook, and upper Willamette River steelhead) as threatened under the Endangered Species Act and 1 population (upper Columbia River spring chinook) as endangered.
In March 1998, a total of 11 populations were proposed for listing as threatened, with an additional 2 populations proposed for listing as endangered. Decisions on the 4 populations not announced on Mar. 16 are anticipated within 6 months. [Assoc Press]
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In mid-March 1999, the WA Dept. of Fish and Wildlife and the Grant County Public Utility District announced an agreement that would result in increased flows from Priest Rapids Dam, to protect fall chinook from becoming stranded by water level fluctuations in pools in the Hanford Reach of the Columbia River. As many as 4.5 million juvenile chinook salmon could be saved annually by this agreement. [Portland Oregonian]
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On Mar. 15 1999, the WA state Senate passed 4 bills related to salmon recovery and sent them to the state House for consideration. These measures 1) require the governor to file a salmon recovery strategy with NMFS by Sept. 1, 2) create a 3-member board to control salmon recovery spending, 3) create a non-profit Puget Sound Foundation to manage privately contributed salmon restoration funds, and 4) authorize special license plates for salmon recovery.
In mid-March 1999, the WA Interagency Committee for Outdoor Recreation announced grant awards to 8 counties for 11 projects -- 9 of which benefit salmon -- under a pilot Riparian Habitat Program. With matching funds, project funding totals about $5.6 million and will be used to purchase conservation easements.
{On Apr. 6, 1999, local government officials held a press conference, accusing the Governor and state legislators of not providing anticipated and intended funding for salmon restoration.}[Seattle Herald, Seattle Times, Portland Oregonian]
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On Mar. 12, 1999, Canadian Fisheries Minister David Anderson announced that, although salmon stock rebuilding efforts are beginning to show progress, Canadian salmon harvests might be restricted for the next 6 to 8 years to promote conservation and restoration of threatened coho salmon stocks.
On Mar. 23, 1999, the Canadian Dept. Of Fisheries and Oceans reported that more than 1,500 commercial salmon licenses had been voluntarily retired from the BC fishery. A total of 99 licenses were retired in fall 1998, and 647 more were retired in the latest round. Total cost of this second phase of buyouts is about C$83.5 million, with a total of about C$187 million spent on voluntary retirements since 1996. Critics claim the buyback program has destroyed the BC small-boat fishery.
A third round of buyouts is scheduled for fall 1999. [Portland Oregonian, Reuters, Canadian Press]
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On Apr. 1, 1999, the WA Pollution Control Hearing Board ruled that the WA Dept. of Ecology cannot ignore the chance that Atlantic salmon escaping from fish farms might propagate in Puget Sound streams, and directed the Dept. of Ecology to review evidence of Atlantic salmon reproduction in the wild on the Pacific Coast and take action as needed on permit renewals for salmon net pen operators.}[Assoc Press]
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On Mar. 19, 1999, a conference on Salmon Aquaculture - the Consequences for the Environment and Public Health was held in Dublin, Ireland, focusing on problems of farmed salmon escaping and interbreeding with wild fish. [Irish Times]
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On Apr. 8, 1999, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service listed the bull trout as threatened in the Jarbidge River basin of NV and ID under the Endangered Species Act. This population had been temporarily listed as endangered on an emergency basis in August 1998.}}[Assoc Press, Fed.Register]
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On Mar. 22, 1999, a coalition of 10 environmental groups filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court (Portland, OR) seeking to force the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to list the Great Basin redband trout and several other species as endangered under the Endangered Species Act. The groups claim the federal government has avoided protecting these species to satisfy special interests. [Assoc Press]
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