The NW Facts Newspaper - www.NWFacts.com

When Diversity Matters Most. The Strength Lies In Differences, Not In Similarities

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Home
  • Community
  • Sports
    • Professional
    • College
    • High School
    • Little League
  • Entertainment
    • Events
    • Music
    • Arts
    • Nightlife
  • LifeStyle
    • Business
    • Health
    • Beauty
      • Salons
      • Barbershops
  • Food
    • Restaurant Reviews
    • Recipes
  • Obituaries
  • Faith
    • Announcements
    • Church Directory
    • Events
  • Advertise With Us
  • Contact Us
    • About Us
You are here: Home / News / To help salmon migrate, Ecology issues proposal allowing more water to spill over dams

To help salmon migrate, Ecology issues proposal allowing more water to spill over dams

January 29, 2019 by NWFacts Leave a Comment

The Washington Department of Ecology is issuing a proposal to allow more water to spill over eight federal dams along the lower Columbia and Snake rivers. The move could help improve the survival of juvenile salmon migrating to the ocean, increasing the availability of food for the struggling Southern Resident orcas.

Ecology is responsible for regulating the levels of dissolved gases in the dam water. This temporary change for the 2019-2021 spring spill seasons at the dams would test the potential benefits for fish passage when higher levels of dissolved gases, mainly oxygen and nitrogen, are allowed. Dam operators could increase the amount of water they spill over the dams to help fish migrating downstream without reducing power generation.

“Helping more juvenile salmon survive the journey to the ocean is one of many steps we want to take to protect and restore salmon. Our hope is this will also support the recovery and sustained health of our orcas,” said Gov. Jay Inslee. “This is an important short-term action we can take to help inform our decisions about what will work over the long-term.”

“As always, science is our guide and we need to balance the potential benefits to juvenile salmon without too great of risk to other fish,” said Maia Bellon, director of Ecology. “We want to be intentional and informed about any actions that significantly alter this complex ecosystem.”

Ecology’s action is supported by Inslee’s proposed budget and is responsive to the new agreement for flexible spill operations for the dams. The Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission, and a coalition of the Northwest Sportfishing Industry Association, Columbia Riverkeeper, and Save Our Wild Salmon have all expressed support for this action.

An environmental impact statement provides extensive information on current available science, research, and data related to total dissolved gas. Drafts of the environmental impact statement and short-term modification are now available for public comment.

Ecology is holding two public hearings:

Wednesday, February 13
2:30 PM
Location: Washington State School for the Blind, Fries Auditorium (Old Main Building)
2214 East 13th Street. Vancouver

Tuesday, February 19
6:00 PM
Public hearing via webinar at 6 p.m. (register for the webinar)

After reviewing the comments, Ecology will release the final environmental impact statement and make a decision on the short-term modification.

Additional information on this proposal is available on Ecology’s blog.

Print Friendly

Filed Under: News, Northwest, Politics

Our Sponsors

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

WE SALUTE BLACK HISTORY MONTH

PROPOSED PROJECT

NW FACTS CHURCH DIRECTORY

Archives

  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015

Copyright © 2019 · - Powered By NW Distribution