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1 Introduction
Pages 15-26

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From page 15...
... COLUMBIA RIVER SALMON The Columbia River is well known for its rich variety of salmon species and populations. Columbia River salmon once existed in great abundance and for thousands of years served as the foundation of the diets of the region's Native American tribes.
From page 16...
... Hydropower dams on the Columbia mainstem and hun dreds of storage, diversion, and smaller-scale hydropower dams on its tributaries have altered the volume, velocity, and seasonal ity of river flows. The cumulative effects of these and other changes have contributed to a long-term decline in the number of
From page 17...
... of the Columbia and Snake rivers are all listed as federally endangered species. Co lumbia River salmon and steelhead stocks that are "threatened" or "endangered" (Table 1-1)
From page 18...
... 2. Snake River spring/summer Chinook salmon, threatened (wild/natural spawners in several subbasins of the Snake and Salmon rivers, including tributaries of the lower Snake River, Grande Ronde and Imnaha rivers, South Fork Salmon River, Middle Fork Salmon River, and the Upper Salmon River)
From page 19...
... 5. Upper Columbia River spring Chinook salmon, endan gered (tributaries upstream from Rock Island Dam, including the Wenatchee, Entiat, and Methow rivers)
From page 20...
... . Roughly half of the commercial value is generated in connection with fishing allowed under the American Indian Treaty, which is based on the 1974 ruling by a federal judge regarding the bal ance between tribal and nontribal fishing (Chapter 5 discusses the Boldt decision and other Native American water issues)
From page 21...
... stocks. Chinook and coho salmon domi nate the commercial fishing catch (93 percent)
From page 22...
... The permitting agency must consider several factors in deciding whether to issue water rights to new, or "jun ior," appropriators, including possible impacts of additional withdrawals on federally endangered salmon species. Applicants for new water rights would like to receive permits in order to support economic activities and growth; however, additional withdrawals may negatively affect survival rates of salmon smolts.
From page 23...
... The proposed water extractions considered in this study have the potential to primarily alter two key physical characteristics in the impounded Columbia River as they affect salmon survival -- water temperature and water veloc ity associated with river flow. These factors are of importance to salmonids migrating through the impounded Columbia.
From page 24...
... 2. Review and evaluate existing scientific data and analyses related to fish species listed under the Endangered Species Act in the Columbia River basin, as necessary to accomplish tasks 3 and 4.
From page 25...
... This is not to say that cooperation and compromise on Columbia water management issues has been absent, as there is a long history of government scientists working with policy makers on Columbia River water and salmon management issues. The Columbia River basin today, however, may be at a point where novel ap proaches to collaboration are in order.
From page 26...
... This report's organization reflects its multiple perspectives. Following this introductory chapter, Chapter 2 discusses the ba sin's broad physical, biological, and social features; Chapter 3 discusses hydrology and water management; Chapter 4 discusses environmental influences on salmon; Chapter 5 discusses laws and institutions; Chapter 6 discusses economics and water man agement alternatives; Chapter 7 discusses risks and water with drawals; and Chapter 8 is a brief concluding epilogue.


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