Despite vigorous opposition from Oregon and its governor, the Northwest
Power Planning Council on Wednesday made a change to its bylaws that
made possible, just moments later, the election of Washington's Larry
Cassidy as the panel's chairman for a third consecutive year.

Members of fishing and conservation groups questioned the move in
testimony presented before a vote on the bylaw change.

A north-central Washington habitat proposal -- previously approved for
$2.5 million in high priority project funding -- dropped from favor
Wednesday despite renewed assurances from the Independent Scientific
Review Panel that the planned protections for the so-called Arrowleaf
property would indeed benefit imperiled salmon and steelhead stocks.

The Northwest Power Planning Council announced this week that it has filled two key positions on the staff of its Fish and Wildlife Division.

The most familiar face on the Northwest Power Planning Council, Stan
Grace, bowed out Monday after serving the state of Montana on the panel
for the past 12 years -- a period in which regional power and fish and
wildlife issues became increasingly complex.

A flood of Endangered Species Act listings and burgeoning power needs
had served to complicating the Council's job.