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Oroville Settlement Benefits Feather River and Local Community

By: John Seebach  Tuesday March 21, 2006

Oroville, CA -- Salmon and steelhead of the Feather River, along with the many people who fish and boat there, will benefit from an agreement covering operations of the Oroville hydroelectric project, to be signed today in Oroville. American Rivers praised settlement parties for reaching this agreement, which forms the basis of a new 50-year operating license for the project.


NMFS fails to require fish passage for Hells Canyon

By: John Seebach  Thursday January 26, 2006

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.


Utility features fish improvements through hydro licensing on new website

By: John Seebach  Wednesday August 3, 2005
Region: Northwest
Key Words: fish passage | fisheries | PGE
States: Oregon

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


Settlement agreement signed on Washington's Lewis River

By: John Seebach  Tuesday November 30, 2004
Region: Northwest
States: Washington

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.


Historic Settlement Signed at Pelton Round Butte

By: John Seebach  Tuesday July 13, 2004
Region: Northwest
States: Oregon

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.


Thirsty For More: Augusta Shoals Appeals Water Quality Certification

By: John Seebach  Monday July 5, 2004
Region: South
States: Georgia

The Coastal Conservation League and American Rivers appealed Georgia's water quality certification for the City of Augusta's operation on the Augusta Canal and Diversion Dam. Lack of terms and conditions for any stream flow to be maintained in the four-mile long Augusta Shoals, a stretch of river whose flow is diverted at the dam, served as the basis for January' s appeal.

The certification also did not include conditions to protect federally and state endangered species that occur in the shoals, nor did it require construction of a fish passage facility to allow migrating fish access to upstream waters.


Ft. Halifax Debate Closes with FERC's Final Order

By: John Seebach  Thursday January 22, 2004

FERC's recent issuance of an order regarding the Ft. Halifax dam signaled at least a temporary end to a standing controversy over the Commission's responsibilities and obligations with respect to settlement agreements. On January 22, 2004, FERC issued its final order for the Ft. Halifax Project on the Sebasticook River upholding its original 1998 settlement that required dam removal in the absence of construction of a fish lift.


FERC Tells Parties to Renegotiate Fish Passage Condition in Landmark Settlement Agreement

By: John Seebach  Sunday August 31, 2003
Region: East
States: Maine

The Ft. Halifax Dam has been parked on Sebasticook River, a tributary of the Kennebec River, since 1907. In 1998, after many years of contentious relicensing proceedings, a group of hydropower dam owners known as the KHDG, or Kennebec Hydro Developers Group, a group of conservation organizations called the Kennebec Coalition, and federal and state resource agencies reached a landmark settlement agreement.


Studies Show PacifiCorp Could Remove Dams Safely, Cheaply

By: John Seebach  Tuesday July 20, 2004
Project: Klamath : P-2082

KLAMATH RIVER, Calif., July 20 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Studies released today by a collection of conservation groups suggest that the option of removing one or more of the five mainstem dams on the Klamath River may be more cost effective and technically viable than previously thought.


Hells Canyon DEIS Issued

By: Rebecca Sherman  Saturday July 29, 2006

On July 28, 2006, FERC published a draft environmental impact statement for the licensing of the Hells Canyon Complex. The 1000+ MW project blocks all migration for endangered Snake River salmon and steelhead. FERC does not recommend any additional passage into tributaries or the mainstem Snake River for the next 30-50 year license.