Discussion Topic: How can the federal government save salmon?
A federal district court ordered yesterday that additional water be spilled over the dams along the Columbia and Snake river systems this spring and summer to provide more natural river conditions for spawning salmon. This comes after the federal government's previous plan was thrown out by the courts because it did not meet the requirements to protect and restore salmon populations, according to the Endangered Species Act.
So, what should that guide to salmon recovery include?
"The court's order is good news for fish and fishing communities in the Columbia River basin, but we are still a long way from solving this problem," said Todd True of Earthjustice, lead attorney for the fishing and conservation interests. "The federal agencies still must deliver a final plan that makes the major changes in dams and dam operations that our region needs. The draft plan they released last October is not a good start. We will see over the next 60 days whether they can change directions and meet the challenge."
The federal agencies have been given until May 5, 2008 to deliver a new final Biological Opinion (BiOp) that will guide salmon recovery efforts in the seven-state Columbia and Snake River basin for the next decade. (click here for the full story)So, what should that guide to salmon recovery include?
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