August 2006 Issue

Preserving the Benefits of the Federal Columbia River Power System

Mark Gendron, Bonneville Power Administration, presented the agency's draft policy (150k PDF) on changing its role in marketing the region's federal power supply. The central policy change would have Bonneville sell electricity from the existing federal base system, plus a limited amount of additional power (300 average megawatts), if necessary. The agency is also considering adding 250 megawatts to serve new public utilities, 560 megawatts for direct service industries, and 17 megawatts for Port Townsend Paper.
    A panel discussion followed with participants Jack Speer, Alcoa Aluminum, Nancy Hirsh, Northwest Energy Coalition, Marilyn Showalter, Public Power Council, and Larry LaBolle, Avista Utilities.

Enhancing Salmon Habitat Through Nutrient Enrichment

Dr. John Stockner, a limnologist with Eco-Logic, Ltd., presented his research (20k PDF) on the significance of nutrients in salmon restoration. The loss of salmon spawning habitat, hydroelectric development, and severe overfishing over the past century has meant that most Pacific Northwest lakes, rivers, and streams have lost the essential nutrients that salmon brought from the ocean. In some cases, salmon carcasses represented 50 to 75 percent of the annual added nutrients to the ecosystem. According to Stockner, "salmonids are the critical energy and nutrient link between aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems."

Fish and Wildlife Program Takes Next Step With Release of Issue Paper on Provincial Biological Objectives

The Council approved the release of a draft issue paper on biological objectives for ecological provinces under the Council's Columbia River Basin Fish and Wildlife Program. Developing biological objectives will help the Council guide expenditures in the most efficient direction and evaluate the success of the program's activities over the long term.