The estimated survival of Snake River juvenile fish migrating downstream
through the federal hydroelectric system is higher now than it was in 1964 -- before three of the four Lower Snake River dams were built.

National Marine Fisheries Service researchers say smolt survival through
the hydrosystem during the mid-1960 was about 40 percent. Today, smolt
survival through eight dams is estimated to range from 40 to 60 percent
annually.

The survival trend -- displayed in a bar graph ...

The Army Corps of Engineers' plan to move the Rice Island Caspian tern
colony 15 miles down the Columbia River in an attempt to reduce predation
on juvenile salmon has drawn opposition from Northwest and national bird
groups.

The opposition is causing the Corps to seek a compromise plan that may
phase-in the move.

The colony of 10,000 breeding pairs of terns -- the largest in North
America, representing nearly one-quarter of terns on the continent -- may
be devouring as much as ...

The paper -- and computer data - chase is on as reviewing agencies begin
to sort through the 430 Columbia River Basin fish and wildlife restoration
project proposals vying for $127 million in fiscal year 2000 direct fish
and wildlife program funds.

The cycle for fiscal 2000 began Dec. 9, the deadline for submitting
project proposals to the Bonneville Power Administration. The federal power
marketing agency funds the direct program as part of its responsibility
to mitigate impacts to ...

 What is the next step for PATH? What should the scientific group
spend its time and resources on in the first quarter of 1999?

 A subgroup of the 25 to 30 federal, tribal, state, and independent
scientists the PATH planning group asked the National Marine Fisheries
Services multi-agency Implementation Team for guidance on FY 1999 priorities.

 Agreement on the top priority was reached at the Dec. 10 IT meeting:
The IT wants PATH to complete its analyses of the ...

A recently released scientific report on Columbia Basin hatchery operations
has drawn praise, qualified support and outright criticism from those involved
in a congressionally mandated review of artificial production practices.

The "Review of Salmonid Artificial Production in the Columbia River
Basin" was prepared by the seven-member Science Review Team at the
request of the Northwest Power Planning Council.

The report was described by Chip McConnaha, a SRT member and the ...

Two key documents are expected to be completed by month's end, setting
the stage for a January discussion about what directions fish production
might take in the Columbia River Basin.

"We've been, to this point, data gathering. From now on it will
be more policy oriented," John Marsh said of the ongoing Artificial
Production Review. It is expected to culminate next June with a report
to Congress, and, by December 1999, with a list of proposed actions to
improve operations ...

Participants concluded the three-day Columbia River Basin Multi-Species
Framework workshop Thursday -- leaving with heads filled with ideas and
seemingly enhanced goodwill, but with no firm recommendations on how the
region's fish and wildlife might be managed in the decades to come.

"The important thing is the next step," said Bruce Lovelin,
who represents the Columbia River Alliance. The CRA is one of several special
interests groups that joined with federal, state and tribal