Appeals court says BPA must keep fish center afloat

SAN FRANCISCO — A federal appeals court ordered the government Wednesday to continue funding an agency that counts young salmon and other fish in the Columbia River Basin and recommends water flows at hydroelectric power stations to protect endangered fish.

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals' ruling in favor of environmentalists and Indian nations found that the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) did not have congressional authorization to discontinue funding the Portland-based Fish Passage Center.

The center's $1.3 million budget expired last year, but the appeals court at the time tentatively blocked the power agency from cutting funding for the 11-employee center pending Wednesday's decision.

The Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakima Indian Nation, Northwest Environmental Defense Center, Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility and the Northwest Sportfishing Industry Association sued to challenge a move by Sen. Larry Craig, R-Idaho, directing Bonneville to eliminate the center's budget and use a private contractor.

Scientists from the Fish Passage Center monitor 20 dams and fish traps, collect data on chinook, steelhead, coho, shad, sockeye, pink salmon and lamprey. They monitor river conditions, including temperatures, and use the information to make flow and spill requests to the power administration and operators of the dams to improve the survival rates of migrating fish.