REDDEN SEEKS SIGNIFICANT CHANGES IN FINAL SALMON BIOP DUE MARCH 18 Posted on Friday, December 14, 2007 (PST)

Despite grim warnings issued prior to a Wednesday in-court status conference, U.S. District Court Judge James A. Redden expressed hope that an ongoing collaboration and due diligence by the federal agencies in exploring its options can produce a legally and scientifically defensible Columbia Basin salmon protection plan. Read More...

PARTIES GIVE REDDEN VIEWS ON COLLABORATION PROGRESS, DRAFT BIOP Posted on Friday, December 14, 2007 (PST)

Attorneys representing Columbia River basin tribes and states, and other interests told a U.S. District Court judge Wednesday that a collaboration with federal agencies went well in many regards in developing future protections for threatened salmon and steelhead that ply the river's hydro system. Read More...

COUNCIL SAYS MANY OF ITS POLICIES INCORPORATED IN DRAFT BIOPS Posted on Friday, December 14, 2007 (PST)

The Northwest Power and Conservation Council on Thursday signaled its support for the recently released draft biological opinions for the federal Columbia/Snake hydro system and upper Snake irrigation projects, and offered help in implementing the plans for resurrecting threatened salmon and steelhead stocks. Read More...

STUDY SAYS SEA LICE FROM FISH FARMS HARMING WILD SALMON STOCKS Posted on Friday, December 14, 2007 (PST)

A University of Alberta study shows, for the first time, that parasitic sea lice infestations caused by salmon farms are driving nearby populations of wild salmon toward extinction. Read More...

PRESEASON SALMON RETURN FORECASTS SHOW INCREASES IN 2008 Posted on Friday, December 14, 2007 (PST)

After witnessing relatively high, though steadily declining, spring chinook salmon returns to the Columbia River basin over the past eight years, fishery experts have high hopes and estimates for 2008. Read More...

COUNCIL RECOMMENDS CONTINUED FUNDING FOR COMPARATIVE SURVIVAL STUDY Posted on Friday, December 14, 2007 (PST)

The Northwest Power and Conservation Council on Wednesday recommended funding of from $800,000 to $900,000 annually during fiscal years 2008 and 2009 for portions of the Comparative Survival Study, a project coordinated by the Fish Passage Center. Read More...

NINTH CIRCUIT GETS APPEAL OF OREGON COHO ESA-LISTING CASE Posted on Friday, December 14, 2007 (PST)

An appeal filed Thursday seeks to overturn a U.S. District Court ruling that rejected the federal government's decision to leave Oregon coast coho salmon off the Endangered Species Act list. Read More...