BIOP EXTENSION MEANS DEBATE OVER 2007 RIVER OPERATIONS Posted on Friday, December 15, 2006 (PST)

The rebuilding of the federal government's Columbia River basin hydrosystem salmon protection plan will stretch to July 31, at least, under an order issued Wednesday by Portland-based U.S. District Court Judge James A. Redden. Read More...

NEW OCEAN INDEX TOOL FORECASTS NORTHWEST SALMON RETURNS Posted on Friday, December 15, 2006 (PST)

NOAA Fisheries scientists said this week that ocean conditions this year are about average for juvenile salmon entering the Pacific Ocean and vastly improved over the poor conditions observed in 2005, which should be good for adult salmon returns to Pacific Northwest rivers over the next two years. Read More...

WEATHER FORCES RIVER OPERATORS NEED TO RAMP UP RELEASES Posted on Friday, December 15, 2006 (PST)

Chum salmon spawners are on the rise, literally, as Bonneville Dam operators late Thursday began pushing as much water through as is legally allowed to create reservoir space to accommodate a continuing early winter deluge from Mother Nature. Read More...

COUNCIL ECONOMIC ADVISORS TO REVIEW DAM-BREACHING ANALYSIS Posted on Friday, December 15, 2006 (PST)

The Northwest Power and Conservation Council on Wednesday bid its economic advisers to review a report issued recently by a coalition of conservation and fishing groups that claims the removal of four federal dams on the lower Snake River would provide net biological and economic benefits for the region. Read More...

RESEARCH LOOKS AT ASPECTS OF ADULT SALMON HOMING BEHAVIOR Posted on Friday, December 15, 2006 (PST)

Recent research takes a detailed look at one of the most misunderstood aspects of salmon migration – homing movements – and why some Columbia River basin adult salmonids fail to pass dams, as well as why some fish fall back over dams. Read More...

DISCUSSIONS UNDERWAY ON WILDLIFE HABITAT PROJECTS’ O&M Posted on Friday, December 15, 2006 (PST)

A Northwest Power and Conservation Council initiative to better define appropriate costs for wildlife operation and maintenance projects gained momentum this week with discussions kindled on a variety of fronts. Read More...

COMPANY TO BUILD TEMPORARY SPILLWAY WEIR AT MCNARY Posted on Friday, December 15, 2006 (PST)

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers awarded a $1.8 million contract to a Spokane company to build a new prototype surface-bypass structure to develop valuable information for improving passage conditions for out-migrating juvenile salmon and steelhead in the Columbia River, officials at the Walla Walla District headquarters announced this week. Read More...

IRRIGATION REVIEW POINTS TO POTENTIAL WATER CONSERVATION Posted on Friday, December 15, 2006 (PST)

The Columbia-Snake River Irrigators Association has released its review of possible amounts of water that could be attained in Eastern Washington through certain water conservation projects related to irrigated agriculture. Read More...

NINTH CIRCUIT REJECTS REQUEST TO RECONSIDER DREDGING OPINION Posted on Friday, December 15, 2006 (PST)

A three-judge federal appellate panel on Tuesday denied a request to reconsider their August opinion that said the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers did take the required "hard look" at the environmental consequences before proceeding with a project to deepen the lower Columbia River shipping channel. Read More...