Posts Tagged ‘ columbia river ’

Judge Redden: Snake River Dams May Have To Come Down

April 17, 2009
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Here’s good tip from the Oregonian, which is getting the news from an online publication called the NW Fishletter.

The Fishletter reports that District Court Judge James Redden is still concerned about the long term survival of salmon on the Snake River, specifically that they could be extinct by 2017. The Fishletter speculates on how Redden may have picked that date. But the big point here is that, according to the article, Redden told federal regulators their plan for salmon recovery in the Columbia River and Snake River basins should include an option for breaching the Snake River dams.

Redden is expected to issue a ruling soon on the latest federal salmon recovery plan, also known as a Biological Opinion. He’s rejected two earlier versions.

Company Fined For Dumping Chicken Parts In Columbia

April 14, 2009
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A federal judge has fined California Shellfish $75,000 for allowing chicken remains to be dumped in the Columbia River. The company owns Point Adams Packing in Hammond, Oregon. It pleaded guilty to violating the Clean Water Act about a year ago and received the fine yesterday. See more from the Associated Press via the Register Guard.

Big Boost In Spending For Columbia River Salmon Habitat

April 8, 2009
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Three federal agencies want to add another $40 million to a program that protects and restores salmon estuaries along the Columbia River.  The money would be spent on projects such as restoring wetlands near the coast and improving fish passage.

An agreement between the agencies and the state of Washington would nearly double the funding for the program over the next 9 years.  The money comes from the Army Corps of Engineers, Bonneville Power Administration and the Bureau of Reclamation.  It’s on top of more than $49 million the agencies have already agreed to spend.  Washington Fish and Wildlife will manage the program.

WDFW Interim Director Phil Anderson says the money will help them speed up the habitat restoration and because of that, other types of wildlife will also benefit.

Meanwhile, Bonneville Power is taking public comments at this website:

Estuary Habitat MOA with State of Washington

Three More Bonneville Sea Lions Euthanized

April 3, 2009
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Wildlife officials put down three more of the sea lions that were captured this week at Bonneville Dam. Oregon Fish and Wildlife says they all had health problems that prevented them from being placed in zoo or aquariums.

Of the eight sea lions trapped on Wednesday:

  • 4 were euthanized. 3 had contagious viral lesions and the fourth had other unnamed health problems.
  • 2 were released.
  • 1 will be transported to Point Defiance Zoo in Tacoma and will eventually go to the Gladys Porter Zoo in Brownsville, Texas.
  • 1 has undergone a health check and officials are waiting for lab results to come back.
Courtesy ODFW

Courtesy ODFW

In recent years, a growing number of sea lions have been gathering at Bonneville Dam for the spring salmon run. They come because the pickings are easy. Salmon are forced into a relatively small area as they make their way through the dam’s fish passages. In 2007, it’s estimated the sea lions got 4% of the salmon.

At first, wildlife officials tried to scare off the sea lions using noisemakers and water cannons. But when that didn’t work, they got federal permission to begin the trapping program. They’re allowed to take, and possibly kill, about 80 sea lions. But they’re focusing on capturing about 70 sea lions that are heavy predators of salmon.

Fourth Bonneville Sea Lion Killed, Five Captured

April 3, 2009
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One of the eight sea lions trapped at the Bonneville Dam this week has been euthanized. That brings the total number of sea lions killed this year by wildlife officials, to four.

Courtesy ODFW

Courtesy ODFW

Oregon Fish and Wildlife says the sea lion couldn’t be placed in a zoo or aquarium because it has contagious viral lesions, which is the same reason it says put down the three other sea lions.

Meanwhile, two of the remaining six sea lions were branded and released. One has passed a health exam and the remaining four are being examined today.

Wildlife officials have federal permission to trap and kill up to 80 sea lions that heavy predators of salmon at Bonneville Dam.