On July 11th, 2005, the Commission issued a new license for the Box Canyon Project on the Pend Oreille River in northeastern Washington and Idaho. The issuance brought a conclusion to the licensing phase of this project's extended history as a poster child for combative licensing processes. The license adopts mandatory conditions, including fish passage, submitted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Washington Department of Ecology, and the United States Forest Service.

A comprehensive settlement has been reached (hurrah!) on the Lewis River projects in Washington. The settlement will allow for improved and restored flows, and sets fish passage triggers that may open up as much as 174 miles of new habitat.

Read PacifiCorp's press release, or read on for the lead conservation group's statement on the settlement. Other signing organizations include Trout Unlimited and Native Fish Society.

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.

The Cushman Project lies on the North Fork Skokomish River in Washington. On May 21, 1999, FERC issued an Order granting the City of Tacoma' s motion to stay implementation of the new Cushman license pending litigation, including the instream flow provisions. At that time, FERC instituted an interim flow requirement of only 60 cubic feet per second (“ cfs” ), well under the 240 cfs established in the new license. The 60 cfs is wholly inadequate to support a healthy riparian ecosystem and adversely impact fish spawning, rearing, and access to salmon and steelhead habitat.

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.

BELLINGHAM, WA— Yesterday, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) released its decision affirming federal jurisdiction for a hydropower project on Nooksack Falls, located on the North Fork Nooksack River in Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie Forest.

On August 22nd, the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals issued a decision in City of Tacoma v. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. After being left nearly dry for more than 80 years by the Cushman hydroelectric project, the North Fork Skokomish river will once again have a healthy flow of water.

AquaEnergy Group filed a license application with FERC for its proposed Makah Bay tidal hydrokinetic project (P-12751). While FERC has already issued several preliminary permits for tidal hydrokinetic projects, this will be the first licensing of a tidal project.

The Hydropower Reform Coalition is seeking a new Northwest Coordinator to manage its Northwest operations.