On the eve of a potential salmon fishing closure that would devastate coastal communities and fishing families in California and Oregon, a federal court today ruled that the Bush administration can not continue to strangle water flows in the Klamath River in years with average or below rainfall.

FERC's deadline for all interested parties in the Hells Canyon dams to file their recommendations for terms and conditions in the new license was January 26, 2006. The federal National Marine Fisheries Service - the agency charged with protecting migrating endangered salmon and steelhead - submitted a simple reservation of authority. In other words, the agency did nothing and failed in its responsibility to protect these endangered species.

The Coalition was pleased as punch to see Portland General Electric (PGE) showcase its new commitments to fish recovery - taking the connection between environmental restoration and its hydropower dams and new licenses online.

From PGE's March 8th press release:

Fish and the rivers they live in: PGE Web site tells many stories

Anglers will find trend data and fish counts helpful

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is considering adjustments to the upper boundary of a federal Wild and Scenic designation on the Lower Crooked River in central Oregon in order to accommodate hydropower development. The Lower Crooked River has Wild and Scenic River (WSR) status for its outstanding recreational values and towering basalt canyons. The river is dammed just above the Wild and Scenic reach by the Bureau of Reclamation's Arthur Bowman Dam.

You may have seen our billboards up in Sacramento (on I-80 East near Leisuretown), Seattle (corner of 4th and Cherry), and Portland (corner of Burnside and NW 22nd).

Whether or not you've seen the billboards, you should visit the Why Wild website to learn:

• Why wild salmon are special and important
• Why a proposed federal hatchery policy does not protect wild salmon
• What you can to restore protections to wild salmon.

On August 6th, FERC granted a petition requesting consultation with federal fish agencies over the impacts of Hells Canyon dams on endangered fish species.

A 2004 historic settlement agreement will allow fish to pass three enormous dams on the mainstem Deschutes for the first time in decades.

Co-signed by joint owners Portland General Electric and Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs and 20 other agencies and organizations, the settlement agreement restores flow, water quality and fish habitat through the project area.

Signatories included HRC members American Rivers, WaterWatch of Oregon, Oregon Trout, and Trout Unlimited.

Court finds agency' s delay on ESA consultation petition “nothing less than egregious”

SEATTLE – Today, calling the agency' s delay “egregious,” a federal court ordered the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to respond to a 1997 petition from conservation groups requesting that the agency consult with NOAA Fisheries on the adverse impacts the Hells Canyon Complex has on endangered salmon and steelhead.

Visit Restore Hells Canyon for more about the poll and the campaign.

Poll reveals overwhelming support for Hells Canyon and salmon restoration

Boise — Nearly 8 of 10 voters who live in the Idaho Power service area think the company should be held responsible for restoring the ecological health of Hells Canyon, according to an independent poll released today.

Roseburg, OR-- Seven conservation groups today sued the federal government for issuing an environmentally damaging hydropower license for a hydroelectric project on the North Umpqua River.