Representatives of two "stakeholder" groups expressed apprehension Wednesday
about the products that are about to emerge from the Northwest Power Planning
Council's Multi-Species Framework analytical process.
A variety of interest groups are now awaiting the results of what has
been described as a massive outpouring of data from the framework process'
computer modeling effort. The framework ecological work group and science
steering committee are in the process of reviewing the ...

Extinction is a dark, shadowy word but scientists must try to bring
it into focus as they try to provide a basis for sound fish and wildlife
recovery decision making, according to a co-leader of the National Marine
Fisheries Service's Cumulative Risk Initiative.
But decision makers must know that extinction analyses can be flawed.
"Policy makers need to be aware of the perils and pitfalls of extinction
analysis," Dr. Peter Kareiva told an audience gathered for a Wednesday
workshop ...

A "short list" of candidates to fill
four vacant positions on the Independent Scientific Advisory Board has
been forwarded to the Northwest Power Planning Council and the National
Marine Fisheries Service.
A list of nine scientists with expertise
in five different subject areas has been recommended by a National Research
Council nominations committee to serve on the ISAB. The terms of three
ISAB members, Rick Williams, Richard Whitney and Phil Mundy, expired in
September 1998 and a ...

, mainstem hydrologist, Columbia River Inter-Tribal
Fish Commission:

Re: Feb. 12 CBB article titled "ESTUARY GOVERNMENTS OPPOSE CHANNEL
DEEPENING"

The statement was made "They were supposed to have evaluated dredging
to 41, 42 and 43 feet, a regional port alternative, as well as look at
nonstructural alternatives, such as upgrading the river forecasting system,"
Taylor said. "By its own economic study, upgrading the river forecasting
system is cheaper, ...

Ken Casavant, former Washington member of the Northwest Power Planning
Council, has been appointed to the Council's Independent Economic Analysis
Board.

Casavant, who served on the Council from 1994 to April of this year,
is a professor of agricultural economics at Washington State University
in Pullman.

Casavant's specialty is transportation economics. He is director of
the Eastern Washington Intermodal Transportation Study at WSU, which has
evaluated the potential impacts of ...

...

Expect average weather this winter, although its intensity and when Northwesterners will see snow at low elevations varies by weatherman.

While giving luck its due in predicting weather, six meteorologists and climatologists forecasted winter weather in front of nearly a hundred people in Portland Oct 25.

Global warming will bring more rainfall to the Northwest, but it will
fall earlier in the winter and less of it will end up as snowpack. The
spring runoff will occur earlier and the normal drought that follows
winter in the Northwest will last longer resulting in very low summer
stream flows.

A meeting of Columbia Basin fish and wildlife recovery's analytical
minds was called this week to sort through the varied methods,
assumptions and conclusions now being produced that are intended to
eventually inform the region's decision makers.