Advertising

The Seattle Times Company

NWjobs | NWautos | NWhomes | NWsource | Free Classifieds | seattletimes.com

The Seattle Times

Editorials / Opinion


Our network sites seattletimes.com | Advanced

Originally published September 21, 2009 at 4:36 PM | Page modified September 21, 2009 at 6:46 PM

Comments (10)     E-mail E-mail article      Print Print view      Share Share

A plan for Columbia River salmon recovery to please a critic

The federal district judge who has twice rejected plans for salmon and steelhead recovery in the Columbia River Basin might find revisions by the Obama administration to his liking. No predicting his reaction, but it is time to put an improved plan to work.

THE Obama administration's revised, broadly circulated plans for protecting Northwest salmon runs and managing the Columbia River hydroelectric system truly have an audience of one, a skeptical federal judge.

After two false starts, he may well like what he sees.

This time U.S. District Judge James Redden will read enough active verbs, contingency plans and flow charts to convince him that tangible efforts to protect endangered salmon and steelhead are under way or close at hand.

Reworking the Columbia River biological opinion, the federal blueprint for salmon recovery, is turning into a growth industry. Pursuit of the perfect plan consumes time and energy better invested in putting a good plan into effect, watching it work and adapting it under way.

Redden, who has twice rejected a Bush administration version, gave Obama's team extra time last spring to put its mark on the biological opinion, which they resubmitted last week.

After endorsing the underlying science, the new administration pledged to accelerate a variety of actions and enhance others. Contingency plans, rapid-response programs and emergency triggers presume to spur more action.

Now it falls to Redden to measure sincerity and capacity behind the promise.

Regional ratepayers already support annual salmon budgets of $100 million, and another $6 million is pledged for habitat and estuary improvements.

Sound science bumps into incomplete science and science in progress, as with hatcheries. Do they complicate restoration of wild salmon and steelhead runs? The question smacks into the popularity of hatcheries for salmon production and sustained harvests.

Likewise, spring and summer spills at the dams to move fish through the system create a tension with hydropower production. The Bonneville Power Administration had best be able to articulate a compromise that satisfies the judge.

The biological opinion puts removal of four Lower Snake River back on the table after the previous administration took away the option. They are back as a long-term contingency plan, but without sufficient science to justify moving ahead now, in the view of the administration.

Time to move ahead with constructive, long-term action, and a vigilant judge to keep the government honest.

More Editorials headlines...

E-mail E-mail article      Print Print view      Share Share

We could use the dams on the Lower Snake River in conjunction with wind turbines to help save the salmon. The dams on the Snake slow the flow rate...  Posted on September 22, 2009 at 7:02 AM by d1b. Jump to comment
Kudos to Judge Redden, who has patiently waited for a correct administrative response and for his courage for doing the right thing. No more band...  Posted on September 22, 2009 at 3:42 PM by lordoflys. Jump to comment
The Obama administration plan for endangered salmon does little to restore salmon and even less for endangered Southern Resident killer whales that...  Posted on September 22, 2009 at 12:36 PM by Stormboy. Jump to comment


Get home delivery today!

More Editorials

NEW - 04:23 PM
Lawmakers freeze bonuses and salary increases

NEW - 04:23 PM
Congress should say no to Comcast/NBC merger

Lake Tapps, for cities, fish and recreation

Gates Foundation makes bold investment in childhood vaccines

First United Methodist Church opens the doors to its new home

Advertising

Video

Marketplace

Open Houses

Find this weekend's open house listings.
Or search by location:

nwautos

Fatal crashes are down in Washington, and a national used-car database goes onlinenew
Associated Press Study: Fatal crashes down in Washington Last year Washington's roads were the scene of the fewest fatal crashes since 1955. According...
Post a comment

 
Most read
Most commented
Most e-mailed
 
 

Most viewed imagesMore

Advertising