For the first time, biological social and economic risks of potential actions are arrayed for decision-makers and the public.

For more information: Bob Lohn, Director, Fish and Wildlife Division, 800-452-5161

Council Chair Larry Cassidy of Vancouver, Washington, said the results change the nature of the fish and wildlife debate from science to policy.  That is because the results show that alternatives with the highest economic and social risks, such as dam breaching, have the lowest biological risks.  Conversely, alternatives with the lowest economic and social risks, such as status-quo river and dam operations, yield the highest biological risks. 

?The policy question is how much risk are we willing to accept in this region?? Cassidy said.  ?The Council is uniquely suited to this important task.?

Eric Bloch, an Oregon member and the Council's vice chair, said that the Framework Project gives the region the ability to ?debate alternative strategies to recover salmon with some understanding of what will and won't work, the risks involved, the costs and who will pay them.?

The Framework Project is the most comprehensive analysis ever performed on these issues.  The Council intends to use the project's analysis, and other information, as it amends its Columbia River Basin Fish and Wildlife Program.  The program directs more than $127 million annually in fish and wildlife projects and research to mitigate the impact of hydroelectric dams.

The Framework Project was managed by a state-federal-tribal committee and administered by the Council.  The project brought together hundreds of individuals representing state and federal agencies, Indian tribes, environmental and industry groups, and interested citizens to propose and discuss potential fish and wildlife recovery actions.

The chart above shows the increase in chinook salmon, both hatchery and naturally spawning stocks, that could be expected from each alternative given optimistic assumptions of their effectiveness.

The seven alternatives:

Alternative 1
Vision:  Recreate a natural river
Steps:  Breach six dams (the four lower Snake dams, McNary Dam, John Day Dam), sharply cut fishing, close most hatcheries, significantly improve habitat on both public and private land.
Annual costs:  $1.4 billion above current expenditures.

Alternative 2
Vision:  Recreate a natural river, with fishing
Steps:  Breach five dams (the four lower Snake dams and John Day Dam) allow commercial tribal fishing and sport fishing, use hatcheries to restore weak stocks, moderately improve habitat on both public and private lands.
Annual costs:  $770 million above current expenditures.

Alternative 3
Vision:  Recreate a natural river, increase hatcheries
Steps:  Breach the four lower Snake dams, allow commercial tribal fishing and sport fishing, increase use of hatcheries, significantly improve habitat on public lands, moderately improve habitat on private lands.
Annual costs:  $430 million above current expenditures.

Alternative 4
Vision:  Seek middle ground, use science
Steps:  Continue current programs but manage more carefully. Only breach lower Snake dams if there is further support for the action, emphasize tribal fishing and sport fishing over non-tribal commercial fishing, limited use of hatcheries, moderately improve habitat on public lands.
Annual costs:  $130 million above current expenditures.

Alternative 5
Vision:   Do everything but breach dams
Steps:   Modify the dams as much as possible to help salmon while leaving them intact, emphasize tribal fishing and sport fishing over non-tribal commercial fishing, increase use of hatcheries, significantly improve habitat on both public and private land.
Annual costs:  $470 million above current expenditures.

Alternative 6
Vision:  Generate more power and invest in habitat protection
Steps:  Release less water in the spring (a measure now taken to help young salmon) and use the increased revenue to improve habitat, increase use of hatcheries, allow tribal and sport fishing, significantly improve habitat on public land, moderately improve habitat on private land.
Annual costs:  $250 million above current expenditures.

Alternative 7
Vision:  Maximize economic output
Steps:  Maximize barging of fish past dams, stop all harvest of wild fish, increase use of hatcheries to produce fish for harvest, take minimal efforts to restore habitat on public and private land.
Annual costs:  $120 million below current expenditures.