Fishing and conservation groups want the Washington Department of Ecology to loosen up some regulations and allow more water to be spilled over dams on the Columbia and Snake rivers.
If the timing is done right, spilling more water over dams helps young salmon migrate down river to the ocean. Conservationists compare it to the...
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Hydropower
Don’t Cry Over Spilled Water. Groups Say Let’s Help Salmon Instead.
NOAA Will Rework Obama Salmon Plan
Showing it knows how to read a judge’s memo, NOAA says it will spend the next three months reworking the Obama plan for salmon and steelhead in the Columbia Basin.
Friday’s announcement was a response to federal district court Judge Redden, who strongly suggested this action nearly two weeks ago.
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VIDEO: Highlights From Klamath Basin Signing Ceremony
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“Hasta La Vista” Dams: Deals Signed To End Klamath Basin Water Wars
Judging by the love fest inside the Capitol Rotunda this morning, it’s hard to imagine that the Klamath water wars ever existed.
The room was filled with smiles, applause and some humor courtesy of Governor Schwarzenegger.
Schwarzenegger joked it was finally time to say, “Hasta la vista to the dams.” The crowd ate it up.
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A New Way Forward On Removing Klamath River Dams
Several environmental groups are coming together with a new proposal for removing four hydroelectric dams from the Klamath River in Oregon and California.
It’s response to an earlier agreement announced in September by the Interior Department. While that agreement laid the foundation for dam removal, many environmental groups were not satisfied with it.
Today’s proposal is...
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Does The Science Support The New Obama Salmon Plan?
Yes and no, according to Rocky Barker in the Idaho Statesman.
The paper has a copy of a memo written after a group of independent scientists looked at the 2008 Biological Opinion, or BiOp. The BiOp is a ten year plan to help salmon and steelhead recover in the Columbia and Snake Rivers.
According to Barker,...
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Salmon Judge: Obama Plan Is A Good Piece Of Work
It’s a tricky business when reporters try to read the minds of judges. But if my impression is correct, U.S. District Judge Redden likes a lot of what he sees in the latest plans to help endangered salmon and steelhead in the Columbia River Basin.
“This is a good piece of work,” said Redden just...
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From The Salmon Hearing: Judge Says We’re Close To A Plan
Next update after today’s hearing is over.
The most significant moment in today’s hearing on the Obama salmon plan came very early.
Among the first words uttered by U.S. District Court Judge James Redden, “With a little more work, we’ve got a BiOp.”
BiOp is shorthand for biological opinion, a massive ten year plan that will guide...
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In Case You Missed It: Updates On Molalla River And Obama Salmon
Molalla River Protection Passes House
A bill to protect 22-miles of the Molalla River under the Wild and Scenic River Act was approved today by the House. All five of Oregon’s representatives voted in favor. Senators Wyden and Merkley have introduced an identical bill in the Senate. House approval was considered a sure thing by...
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Is The Obama Salmon Plan DOA?
The ideas look promising, but the Obama Administration’s update on the Columbia Basin salmon plan may not be legal.
That’s the essence of a new letter from U.S. District Judge James Redden. Redden is overseeing the court battle over what the federal government needs to do to make sure dams on the Columbia and Snake...
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