The Independent Economic Review Board hasn't officially been asked to
review the outcomes of the Multi-Species Framework project's Human Effects
report.
But Dr. Terry Morlan, the Northwest Power Planning Council's liaison
to both the IEAB and Human Effect Work Group, has asked the panel to help
him better translate the consequences of seven fish and wildlife management
scenarios outlined in the Framework economic report.
The panel was formed by the Council to offer economic advice on ...

The Multi-Species Framework process drew polite applause this week from
Columbia Basin interest groups that for the most part like the potential
and intent but withheld judgment on its usefulness in guiding salmon recovery
processes.
The Northwest Power Planning Council, which funded the bulk of the 1
1/2-year-long process, on Tuesday heard the results of an initial analysis
conducted on seven different approaches to managing the Columbia River
and its tributaries. The attempt to quantify

Following a meeting between Columbia River Indian tribes and federal
agencies in Washington, D.C., last week, the White House Council on Environmental
Quality has pledged the government will consult them on salmon issues,
including the All-H recovery approach.
The assurance was made by CEQ Chairman George Frampton in a Jan. 28
letter to Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission Executive Director
Don Sampson.
While federal agencies at the regional level will be focusing on ...

Review of the primary analytical processes being used in Columbia Basin
recovery planning, and a hard look at the region's fish harvest practices,
head the near-term work list for the independent science group assembled
three years ago by the Northwest Power Planning Council and the National
Marine Fisheries Service.
Due also in the coming months will be a review of the impacts of Columbia
River estuary conditions and management on the Council's efforts to "protect,
mitigate and ...

The federal caucus will be taking its developing salmon recovery products
on the road next month, spotlighting Corps of Engineers study of Lower
Snake River hydrosystem configuration options; a Phase 1 study of John
Day Dam drawdown; the multi-agency "All H's" recovery plan; and other documents.
The effort to educate the public about those processes begins Feb. 3
in Portland and touches down in 12 other locations in Idaho, Montana, Alaska,
Oregon and Washington over the following five ...

Washington's Larry Cassidy is perhaps uniquely positioned to influence
the course of salmon recovery in the Columbia Basin.
Little more than a year after his appointment by Gov. Gary Locke to
the four-state Northwest Power Planning Council, Cassidy was elected this
month to chair that body. The Council recommends annually how $127 million
is spent on regional fish and wildlife projects.
Last year the Vancouver businessman was also appointed, again by Locke,
to the state's five-member ...

About 30 people offered opinions Tuesday during the National Marine
Fisheries Services first of 15 scheduled public hearings in the Northwest
to accept comments on its proposed 4(d) rules for 14 species of steelhead
and salmon listed as threatened under the federal Endangered Species Act.
At the Portland hearing, NMFS Rob Jones and Rosemary Furfey emphasized
in their introductory remarks that the rules are drafts and that NMFS seeks
constructive feedback. They also emphasized that all ...