The number of returning summer chinook salmon greatly exceeded the 10-year average, according to the federal agencies responsible for salmon recovery efforts in the federal Columbia River hydropower system.
A federal submittal says agencies will do the work necessary to correct "legal deficiencies" in 2005's biological opinion on the operation of upper Snake River irrigation projects, and offers a brief outline of progress reporting tasks and schedule.
Hot late August and early September chinook salmon fishing could force closure of that sport fishery on the lower Columbia River mainstem as early as next week, according to Oregon and Washington officials.
A new book of essays from more than 30 salmon scientists, policy analysts and wild salmon advocates suggesting ways to save runs of wild salmon has been published by the American Fisheries Society – and some of the prescriptions are certain to raise a few eyebrows.
U.S. District Court Judge James A. Redden this week gave legal adversaries two weeks to develop a schedule and plan for reworking a biological opinion on federal irrigation projects in the upper Snake River basin that is "coordinated" with an ongoing remand of a BiOp on lower Snake and Columbia river hydro projects.
The Bonneville Power Administration will have the tools to raise power rates in dire times, if need be, to meet Endangered Species Act costs stemming from ongoing litigation in federal court, according to a report filed earlier this month.
A number of funding decisions remain in limbo as the Northwest Power and Conservation Council enters the stretch run in deciding which of $1 billion in funding requests will fit into a fish and wildlife program budget that holds about half that amount for fiscal years 2007-2009.
If optimal water conditions are provided during warm weather migrations, adult salmon and steelhead will find it and use it to their benefit, according to a new report issued by the Idaho Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit at the University of Idaho.
Changed troll fishery management intended to benefit Canadian fish appear to have the pleasant side effect of reducing the toll on at least one protected Columbia River basin salmon stock, according to a report prepared for the Pacific Salmon Commission.
Oregon State University scientists are teaming with commercial fishermen on a new research effort to rapidly identify the home river basin of chinook salmon found in the Pacific Ocean using genetic testing.
A July 21 letter from the Bonneville Power Administration's CEO Steve Wright reiterates the agency's intent to defer funding for new Nez Perce tribal hatchery facilities while the project’s full biological benefits are weighed in an ongoing court-ordered process.
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife is seeking public comments on a draft scientific report designed to lay the foundation for a new management plan for Washington steelhead.
This year's spring chinook salmon return to the Columbia River was belated, but eventually provided fair fishing for sport and commercial fishers alike, according to a season summary released this week by the Oregon and Washington departments of fish and wildlife.
A process to rebuild the government's salmon protection strategy for the Columbia River hydrosystem is on track, aiming for recovery of imperiled salmon and steelhead stocks, federal attorneys told U.S. District Court Judge James A. Redden July 21.
The Kootenai Tribe of Idaho, Idaho Department of Fish and Game, and federal agencies have opened a new chapter in efforts to conserve and recover Kootenai River white sturgeon.
The Independent Scientific Advisory Board likes the concept, but says a proposal to make all Columbia River basin fish and wildlife data available through one internet source should start first as a demonstration/pilot project.
The House Resources Committee this week voted 17-10 to support the Endangered Species Compliance and Transparency Act, which requires Power Marketing Administrations such as the Bonneville Power Administration to list direct and indirect cost estimates associated with Endangered Species Act compliance.
Survival of juvenile Snake River spring chinook salmon from Lower Granite Dam to Bonneville Dam was higher in 2006 -- 58 percent -- than it has been since federal research began in 1993, according to researchers.
The Endangered Species Act is often "used as a tool to drive up costs for our electricity ratepayers," U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris said during a July 7 congressional oversight field hearing in Pasco, Wash.
The state of affairs will become clearer in the coming weeks within the federal government's "collaborative" process to reconstruct its Columbia River hydrosystem salmon protection plan.
A near doubling of the projected Upper Columbia summer chinook return from previous predictions has removed fears that the mainstem sport salmon fishing season would have to be ended prior to the weekend and the looming Fourth of July holiday.
This year’s late-timed rush of spring chinook salmon up the Columbia River may have done as much to save their number as did elaborate human efforts to keep the fish from the jaws of sea lions lurking at the base of Bonneville Dam.
Officials from tribes, fish agencies, the U.S. Forest Service, local government, Grant Public Utility District and interested individuals on Wednesday met in Leavenworth, Wash., to discuss preliminary projects that could help restore populations of Upper Columbia River spring chinook salmon to the White River.
Idaho Power this month has begun trapping spring chinook salmon at both the Hells Canyon Dam and its Rapid River Hatchery with a combined capture goal of 2,700 fish for artificial spawning.
Conservation groups have challenged a plan to eradicate hybrid fish
from alpine lakes in Montana's South Fork Flathead River drainage.
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