COMPROMISE PLAN ON ALTERING MONTANA FLOWS WINS CONSENSUS Posted on Friday, July 21, 2006 (PST)

A rapid, late spring snowmelt that caused harm to northwest Montana resident fish could, in a round-about way, also bring those same trout long-sought benefits. Read More...

BPA EXPECTS TO CUT 2007 WHOLESALE POWER RATES BY THREE PERCENT Posted on Friday, July 21, 2006 (PST)

For the fourth year in a row, the Bonneville Power Administration announced it expects to cut wholesale power rates. Read More...

FEDERAL BRIEF DEFENDS BPA’S FISH PASSAGE CENTER DECISION Posted on Friday, July 21, 2006 (PST)

Implementing the purposes of the Northwest Power Act is a balancing act that requires discretion, and the Bonneville Power Administration's CEO used it well last winter in deciding not to issue a new contract to fund the Fish Passage Center, according to a federal brief filed in federal court. Read More...

WILL NEW COLUMBIA RIVER PLAN RELIEVE WATER RIGHTS ISSUE? Posted on Friday, July 21, 2006 (PST)

A new water management plan for the Columbia River could “unlock the stalemate” that’s lasted more than 30 years, but central Washington irrigators may be disappointed if they think the process for issuing water rights will go quickly or smoothly. Read More...

REDDEN AGAIN REJECTS SINGLE BIOP FOR UPPER SNAKE, LOWER RIVER Posted on Friday, July 21, 2006 (PST)

In a July 14 opinion and order, U.S. District Court Judge James A. Redden denied a request to have a single Endangered Species Act "biological opinion" prepared for two sets of federal Columbia Basin dams. Read More...

HOT WEATHER PROMPTS DWORSHAK RELEASE TO COOL LOWER SNAKE Posted on Friday, July 21, 2006 (PST)

A looming heat wave, and rising lower Snake water temperatures, have prompted hydro operators and fish managers to call on a stronger release of Dworshak Reservoir's coolest water to improve conditions downstream for migrating chinook salmon. Read More...

ESA COST-REPORTING BILL CLEARS HOUSE RESOURCES COMMITTEE Posted on Friday, July 21, 2006 (PST)

The House Resources Committee this week voted 17-10 to support the Endangered Species Compliance and Transparency Act, which requires Power Marketing Administrations such as the Bonneville Power Administration to list direct and indirect cost estimates associated with Endangered Species Act compliance. Read More...