Deleted User
01-18-2001, 06:47 PM
FISHWIRE ADVISORY:
::NWFISHLETTER 116/ IN SUMMARY::
[1] BPA BLINKS AT NEW BIOP
The Bonneville Power Administration may not be able to afford some of the
fish mitigation strategies outlined in the new 10-year Biological Opinion.
BPA told members of the IT that the current power crisis and the low water
year may force the agency to cap its fish and wildlife spending, in order
to make its treasury payments. But the National Marine Fisheries Service
insists that all elements of the BiOp must be implemented to avoid
jeopardizing endangered fish. http://www.newsdata.com/enernet/fishletter/fishltr116.html#1
[2] GENTLEMEN, START YOUR ATTORNEYS: REGION RACES TO COURT
OVER FISH ISSUES
The new federal 4(d) rules to prevent "taking," or killing, endangered
salmon are almost certain to generate a slew of lawsuits. Treaty tribes as
well as environmental groups have promised legal action, filing notices of
intent to sue in recent months. Other groups are moving quickly toward
the courts, as agencies calculate how to enforce the 4(d) provisions. http://www.newsdata.com/enernet/fishletter/fishltr116.html#2
[3] COUNCIL HEARS BRIEFING ON BIOP
The new Biological Opinion could derate the Columbia River system an
additional 60 megawatts, bringing the total system derating to 980
megawatts, according to testimony at this week's Northwest Power Planning
Council session. NMFS officials also outlined costs for the fish
mitigation measures, admitting that the tab could double in future years. http://www.newsdata.com/enernet/fishletter/fishltr116.html#3
[4] CHUM'S THE WORD: NMFS TRIES TO BALANCE LISTED ESUs
Columbia Basin fish managers who called for more flows to aid spawning ESA-
listed chum salmon were given short shrift recently when NMFS turned them
down, citing a need to save water for the spring migration. Worries over
power generation will also likely keep BPA from honoring the managers'
request for water. http://www.newsdata.com/enernet/fishletter/fishltr116.html#4
[5] SKAGIT CHUMS, CHINOOK TAKE POSSIBLE HIT
Chum salmon were also the object of concern when recent Baker River hydro
operations dewatered redds near the Washington town of Concrete. Puget
Sound Energy's decision to refill a reservoir slowed flows in the river to
a trickle, exposing both chum and ESA-listed chinook redds. http://www.newsdata.com/enernet/fishletter/fishltr116.html#5
[6] UNHAPPY LEGISLATORS HELP ODFW DIRECTOR OUT THE DOOR
Spurred in part by threats from the Oregon legislature, ODFW director Jim
Greer has left the agency. The Republican-controlled legislature said it
would withhold the agency's budget unless Greer resigned, leading to his
departure earlier this week. http://www.newsdata.com/enernet/fishletter/fishltr116.html#6
[7] RUNOFF FORECAST ALARMS NW WATER WATCHERS
January's final runoff forecast at The Dalles has pegged this year's water
supply at 80.4 MAF, just 76 percent of normal, one of the lowest forecasts
in regional history. Grand Coulee reports similar figures, with water
supply 77 percent of normal. At Lower Granite, runoff is set at 79
percent. http://www.newsdata.com/enernet/fishletter/fishltr116.html#7
::NWFISHLETTER 116/ IN SUMMARY::
[1] BPA BLINKS AT NEW BIOP
The Bonneville Power Administration may not be able to afford some of the
fish mitigation strategies outlined in the new 10-year Biological Opinion.
BPA told members of the IT that the current power crisis and the low water
year may force the agency to cap its fish and wildlife spending, in order
to make its treasury payments. But the National Marine Fisheries Service
insists that all elements of the BiOp must be implemented to avoid
jeopardizing endangered fish. http://www.newsdata.com/enernet/fishletter/fishltr116.html#1
[2] GENTLEMEN, START YOUR ATTORNEYS: REGION RACES TO COURT
OVER FISH ISSUES
The new federal 4(d) rules to prevent "taking," or killing, endangered
salmon are almost certain to generate a slew of lawsuits. Treaty tribes as
well as environmental groups have promised legal action, filing notices of
intent to sue in recent months. Other groups are moving quickly toward
the courts, as agencies calculate how to enforce the 4(d) provisions. http://www.newsdata.com/enernet/fishletter/fishltr116.html#2
[3] COUNCIL HEARS BRIEFING ON BIOP
The new Biological Opinion could derate the Columbia River system an
additional 60 megawatts, bringing the total system derating to 980
megawatts, according to testimony at this week's Northwest Power Planning
Council session. NMFS officials also outlined costs for the fish
mitigation measures, admitting that the tab could double in future years. http://www.newsdata.com/enernet/fishletter/fishltr116.html#3
[4] CHUM'S THE WORD: NMFS TRIES TO BALANCE LISTED ESUs
Columbia Basin fish managers who called for more flows to aid spawning ESA-
listed chum salmon were given short shrift recently when NMFS turned them
down, citing a need to save water for the spring migration. Worries over
power generation will also likely keep BPA from honoring the managers'
request for water. http://www.newsdata.com/enernet/fishletter/fishltr116.html#4
[5] SKAGIT CHUMS, CHINOOK TAKE POSSIBLE HIT
Chum salmon were also the object of concern when recent Baker River hydro
operations dewatered redds near the Washington town of Concrete. Puget
Sound Energy's decision to refill a reservoir slowed flows in the river to
a trickle, exposing both chum and ESA-listed chinook redds. http://www.newsdata.com/enernet/fishletter/fishltr116.html#5
[6] UNHAPPY LEGISLATORS HELP ODFW DIRECTOR OUT THE DOOR
Spurred in part by threats from the Oregon legislature, ODFW director Jim
Greer has left the agency. The Republican-controlled legislature said it
would withhold the agency's budget unless Greer resigned, leading to his
departure earlier this week. http://www.newsdata.com/enernet/fishletter/fishltr116.html#6
[7] RUNOFF FORECAST ALARMS NW WATER WATCHERS
January's final runoff forecast at The Dalles has pegged this year's water
supply at 80.4 MAF, just 76 percent of normal, one of the lowest forecasts
in regional history. Grand Coulee reports similar figures, with water
supply 77 percent of normal. At Lower Granite, runoff is set at 79
percent. http://www.newsdata.com/enernet/fishletter/fishltr116.html#7