Issue 265
March 15, 2007
In this issue:
It�s not whether to study, but what to
study for fish
Water Resources Development Act introduced
in the House
2007 PNWA Mission to Washington � SUCCESS!
It�s not whether to study, but what to
study for fish
Reps.
Jim McDermott (D-WA, 7) and Tom Petri (R-WI, 6) introduced the Salmon
Economic Analysis and Planning Act in the U.S. House of Representatives (H.R.1507)
March 13. They were joined by 31 original cosponsors. Rep. Earl Blumenauer
(D-OR, 3) is the only member from the Pacific
Northwest on the list of cosponsors.
PNWA
does not object to increasing knowledge about effective recovery measures. But
we do object to telling the scientists what the answers should be. This
bill focuses on one recovery measure, breaching the Snake
River dams. Congress should not spend taxpayer money on a
narrowly focused study that will simply increase the divide between the interest
groups in the region.
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If
Congress wants to study the needs of fish, they should address the full
range of current and potential actions. Even Judge Redden has cited the
Northwest Power and Conservation Council�s independent Scientific Advisory
Board in casing doubt on the flow-survival relationship that is the
rationale for dam breaching. There are plenty of other controversial issues
that are worthy of analysis. We know spill costs millions. We also know there
is great debate over its effectiveness. Are we doing all we can to reduce
mortality of endangered fish from non-selective harvest practices? Which
hatcheries and hatchery practices help rebuild endangered salmon runs and
which hurt them?
There
are also other environmental, social and economic effects for each of the
recovery measures. If we are going to study a set of measures, we not only
need to know their impact on fish, we also need to know their impacts on
water quality, air quality and global warming. We believe dam breaching
will have negative effects on all three.
A $20
million federal Environmental Impact Statement focusing directly on the
question rejected dam breaching. That study was completed in 2002. Some say
that is old information, yet they ignore the science that has developed
since then. Since 2000, adult salmon returns to the Basin have been the
highest on record since counts began in 1938.
Dam
breach advocates say that the decline in juvenile fish survival in the
1970s was due to the building of the Snake River
dams. Improvements at the dams have increased survival three-fold since the
seventies. And, improvements continue. According to the federal agencies in
charge, survival today is as high, or higher, than it was in the 1960s,
before the last four dams were built. A study released last month showed
Yakima River salmon, which do not pass the Snake River dams, had identical
survival rates to Snake River salmon,
despite passing through four fewer dams.
Twenty-two
Northwest fish runs that do not pass the Snake River
dams are also listed under the ESA. Many of those are from watersheds
without any dams at all. It is simply not credible to claim that taking out
the Snake River dams will solve the
endangered fish problem in the Northwest.
Staff Contact: Glenn Vanselow
Water Resources Development Act introduced in the House
The Water Resources Development
Act (WRDA) was introduced yesterday in the House (H.R.1495).� The bill is largely the same as the
version seen in the last Congress.�
Committee leaders expressed a desire not to add new projects to the
bill, as they work to pass it quickly.�
There is a possibility that another water projects bill could be
pursued later in this Congress.
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Most of PNWA�s
supported provisions are included in this bill.� Of special note is another proposed
extension of Section 214, the permit funding authority first authorized in
WRDA 2000, and the subject of a great deal of PNWA and stakeholder efforts
to avert sunset over the last few years.�
The authority is currently authorized through December 31,
2008.� We are pleased to announce
that the House WRDA bill proposes extension of the authority through
2010.� While this is a positive
development, PNWA�s position has been that this
authority should be made permanent, to provide greater predictability to
both the Corps and the non-federal stakeholders who provide this additional
regulatory staff capacity.� PNWA will
continue to urge Congress make the authority permanent in WRDA this year.
Other PNWA-supported provisions
contained in the House WRDA bill include deed restriction provisions for
the Ports of Lewiston and Pasco, a siltation
study for the Ports of Ilwaco and Chinook,
language regarding the Port of Sunnyside�s aquatic ecosystem restoration
project on the Yakima River, a provision allowing seismic considerations
and additional non-federal funding for the Elliott Bay Seawall study, and
dredge material placement provision for Puget Island in Wahkiakum County.
The Senate Environment &
Public Works Committee is expected to take up their version of WRDA later
this month.� Stay
tuned for more WRDA news, and to view PNWA�s WRDA
documents, please visit www.pnwa.net.
Staff
Contact: Kristin Meira
2007 PNWA Mission
to Washington
� SUCCESS!
The PNWA Mission to Washington was a
great success this year and we would like to thank everyone who
participated!� PNWA members and staff
were able to effectively present our issues to the decision makers in DC
and set the stage for continued dialogue with the federal government throughout
the year.���
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This unique opportunity on
Capitol Hill is also a great way for our members to learn first-hand the
workings of the federal government, the Corps of Engineers and Congress.
The time we spent with each member of our Northwest Congressional
delegation provided invaluable insight and gave our members an opportunity
to personally thank the delegation for their continued support.� It also allowed PNWA to inform the
delegation of our concerns, educate them on the facts, and learn how we can
better work with them to maintain a productive navigation system in the Pacific Northwest.�
We were also extremely happy
with our �Taste the Northwest� reception.�
This festive evening is an amazing opportunity for our members to
interact with key Congressional staff, industry leaders, and Administration
officials in an informal environment.�
PNWA members were able to connect with over 250 attendees, forming
working relationships that will be invaluable in the coming years as we
address current issues and respond to new challenges.� PNWA would also like to say thank you to
our members who sponsored the event.�
The Northwest fish, beverages, cheeses, candies and other goods that
were shipped in by our membership are what guarantees to make our event
special!�
Thanks to all of our friends in Washington, DC
and to all of our members for your continued participation and support!
Mark your calendars for the 2008
Mission to Washington
Sunday, March 2nd,
2008 � Friday, March 7th, 2008
Washington Court
Hotel
525 New Jersey Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20001
Reservations: 800-321-3010
www.washingtoncourthotel.com
PNWA room rate: $270 single/$290
double
Staff Contact: Heather Kenneson
Pacific
Northwest Waterways
Association
www.pnwa.net
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