January 2003  |  document 2003-01

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In 2002, the Council began work on the next version of its Northwest Power Plan and laid the foundation for future fish and wildlife planning at the tributary, or subbasin, level in the Columbia River Basin. The Council also drafted a set of amendments to its Columbia River Basin Fish and Wildlife Program concerning operations of dams on the mainstem Columbia and Snake rivers, based in large part on recommendations of the region's fish and wildlife agencies and Indian tribes.

The Council and the Bonneville Power Administration are collaborating on a public process to investigate options for the future of the federal power marketing agency, and the Council worked closely with federal fish and wildlife agencies to incorporate recovery planning for threatened and endangered species with the Council's Columbia basinwide effort to protect and enhance all fish and wildlife that have been affected by hydropower dams.

These are important tasks for the region, where the impacts of the energy crisis of 2000/2001 linger in the form of electricity rate hikes and a stagnant economy, and where protection of fish and wildlife is a public priority. The Council works to balance fish and wildlife protection and enhancement against the need for an adequate, efficient, economical and reliable power supply, providing Northwest citizens an opportunity unique in the nation to participate in and influence regional decisionmaking.

This annual report to Congress provides an overview of the Council's work in Fiscal Year 2002. We look forward to continuing to build effective partnerships among fish and wildlife agencies, Indian tribes, stakeholder groups, Bonneville, the region's electric utilities and others who have interests in matters regarding fish, wildlife and energy in the Columbia River Basin.