LAWSUITS NEWS & LEGAL INFORMATION
Endangered Salmon Protection
Columbia, OR: (Apr-07-08) Five Northwest tribes brought charges against the federal government, in a bid to leave hydroelectric dams in the Columbia Basin intact and commit federal agencies to spend money to improve conditions for endangered salmon. Sources stated that both the regional tribes and federal agencies manage 24 dams and irrigation projects along the Columbia and Snake rivers, and that both sides have been embroiled in a legal battle for years over balancing fishing rights, salmon runs and power demands.
As part of a settlement agreement reached by the two sides, the Bonneville Power Administration stated that the tribes would drop their lawsuits against the federal agencies over management of the power-producing system and agree not to file further lawsuits for 10 years. In exchange, the federal agencies would expand their efforts to protect endangered and threatened fish in the Columbia Basin.
The federal agencies also agreed to spend $900 million for hatchery improvements, stream restoration work, screens to protect fish and additional spillway weirs on some of the dams. The settlement agreement stated that the implementation depends on US District Judge James Redden's approval of a scientific plan for protecting fish, called a biological opinion. Records show that in earlier rulings, Redden has rejected previous biological opinions. The biological opinion will propose detailed solutions for mitigating threats to fish posed by dam operations. [KGW NEWS: BPA, TRIBES REACH $900 M SETTLEMENT OVER COLUMBIA SALMON]
Published on Apr-8-08
As part of a settlement agreement reached by the two sides, the Bonneville Power Administration stated that the tribes would drop their lawsuits against the federal agencies over management of the power-producing system and agree not to file further lawsuits for 10 years. In exchange, the federal agencies would expand their efforts to protect endangered and threatened fish in the Columbia Basin.
The federal agencies also agreed to spend $900 million for hatchery improvements, stream restoration work, screens to protect fish and additional spillway weirs on some of the dams. The settlement agreement stated that the implementation depends on US District Judge James Redden's approval of a scientific plan for protecting fish, called a biological opinion. Records show that in earlier rulings, Redden has rejected previous biological opinions. The biological opinion will propose detailed solutions for mitigating threats to fish posed by dam operations. [
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