CLIMATE IMPACTS GROUP RELEASES 3-MONTH PNW CLIMATE OUTLOOK Posted on Friday, April 06, 2007 (PST)

An April update by the University of Washington’s Climate Impacts Group says the outlook for April-May-June is for a greater than 33 percent chance of warmer than normal temperatures for much of Oregon and Idaho, and equal chances for above, below, or near normal temperatures in northwest Oregon, the northern tip of Idaho and all of Washington. Read More...

STUDY LOOKS AT CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS ON SALMON RECOVERY Posted on Thursday, April 05, 2007 (PST)

Scientists from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the University of Washington published a paper Thursday that states habitat deterioration associated with climate change is likely to make salmon recovery in the Pacific Northwest much more difficult, especially in relatively untouched, high-elevation river basins. Read More...

NORTHWEST’S MOST FAMOUS SEA LION – C404 – SHOWS NEW TRICK Posted on Thursday, April 05, 2007 (PST)

The most infamous of Bonneville Dam fish ladder visitors -- California sea lion "C404" -- is back on the scene with yet a new trick to bedevil salmon protectors. Read More...

IDAHO POWER TRANSPORTS 500,000 FISH TO SNAKE, LITTLE SALMON RIVERS Posted on Wednesday, April 04, 2007 (PST)

For some anglers it’s catch-and-release, but for Idaho Power it’s more a matter of haul-and-release. Last month company crews moved nearly 500,000 juvenile spring chinook salmon from the company’s Rapid River Hatchery near Riggins, Idaho, to locations on the Snake and Little Salmon rivers where they were released to begin their trip to the Pacific Ocean. Read More...

FEDS BIOP REMAND PROPOSED FCRPS HYDRO ‘ACTION’ DUE MAY 21 Posted on Wednesday, April 04, 2007 (PST)

Status conferences on June 11 will potentially schedule the homestretch for two court-ordered remand processes that aim to develop "biological opinions" regarding federal dams' impacts on Columbia River basin salmon and steelhead stocks. Read More...

CANADA TO DO ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW OF PROPOSED FLATHEAD MINE Posted on Wednesday, April 04, 2007 (PST)

The Canadian federal government intends to pursue an environmental review of a controversial coal mine in southeastern British Columbia, an intervention that could delay development by 3 years, Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., announced last week. Read More...

SPRING CHINOOK AGAIN TAKE THEIR TIME PASSING BONNEVILLE DAM Posted on Wednesday, April 04, 2007 (PST)

For the third year in a row, upriver spring chinook salmon returning to Columbia and Snake river tributaries and hatcheries appear to be playing a waiting game, with arrivals so far fewer than expected during the beginning of annual spawning run. Read More...

UMATILLA TRIBES, IRRIGATORS ANNOUNCE FEDERAL PLAN TO STUDY NEW WATER DEVELOPMENT Posted on Thursday, March 29, 2007 (PST)

The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation and the Westland Irrigation District (Westland) today announced a commitment from the U.S. Department of Interior to begin a comprehensive analysis of water development alternatives in Oregon’s Umatilla Basin to meet the needs of local farmers and the CTUIR, while also increasing instream flows for fisheries. Read More...

WASHINGTON GOVERNOR NAMES CLIMATE ADVISORY TEAM Posted on Thursday, March 29, 2007 (PST)

Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire has announced the membership of the state's new Climate Advisory Team. The team will work to find solutions climate change challenges and to maximize economic opportunities those challenges present. Read More...

BILL AGAIN INTRODUCED TO EXPEDITE COLUMBIA SEA LION REMOVAL Posted on Thursday, March 29, 2007 (PST)

Washington U.S. Reps. Brian Baird, a Democrat, and Doc Hastings, a Republican, are renewing efforts to reduce sea lion predation of endangered Columbia River salmon. Read More...