Feds Acknowledge, Take No Action on Plan to Store Fish in Columbia River
White House officials have recognized that two new reports aimed at restoring salmon and steelhead populations in the Columbia River meet federal and state clean energy goals, but say what is really needed is a long-term strategy to manage the river basin.
The first report was written by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), with input from the Nez Perce Tribe and the state of Oregon. Actions identified propose significant reductions in direct and indirect mortality from mainstem dams, including breaching one or more Lower Snake River dams.
State and tribal fish managers were expected to review the report over a 30-day period.
The second report was commissioned by the Energy Department’s Bonneville Power Administration and conducted by E3, a private consulting fi...