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DRAFT 



ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS 



.Wtion2.1 Water Use 



This section discusses habitat loss and reduced salmonid production due to dam 

 construction, fish passage problems, inadequate water diversion screening, water flow 

 reductions and fish habitat modifications. The focus of these habitat issues is primarily 

 limited to the Columbia River Basin, and very littie information is presented for coastal 

 tributaries. The following problems were identified: 



(1) the loss of habitat due to blockages from dam construction is reported as 

 one-third of the anadromous salmonid habitat in Oregon. This loss is largely 

 restricted to the Columbia Basin. The report does not acknowledge that this 

 problem is minor on coastal streams where significant anadromous production 

 occurs. 



(2) the discussion of upsti-eam passage issues is restricted to information from 

 the Columbia Basin. 



(3) the scope of the current need to screen water diversions to prevent fish loss 

 over-exaggerates the existing situation. The report implies that 55,000 water 

 diversions are unscreened, so the loss of anadromous salmonids "...must be in 

 the billions. ' The report does not recognize that of the 56,000 diversions 

 reported, only approximately 4,000 occur where gamefish, or threatened or 

 endangered nongame fish species are present. In addition, of these 4,000 

 diversions approximately one-fourth are presentiy screened. Of the 3,000 

 remaining diversions where screens are needed, a significant percentage impact 

 only non-anadromous salmonids and/or nongame threatened or endangered fish 

 species. The discussion should also be regionalized to reflect the relative 

 importance of screening needs on fish bearing streams in different portions of 

 the state. 



(4) the discussion of water withdrawals and instream flow reductions is limited 

 to the Columbia Basin. The relative importance of this issue to coastal 

 watersheds is not assessed. 



Section 2.2 Land Use 

 2.2.1. General 



The report presents a historical perspective of human development, and a description of 

 the land management and ownership patterns in Oregon. A substantial portion of this 

 section is devoted to describing the negative affects of roads on sti-eam habitats and the 

 survival of salmonids. This discussion is accurate, but the report fails to acknowledge 

 that a majority of road miles and road-related impacts occur in relation to forest 

 management activities. The scientific studies cited as the basis for the discussion were 

 primarily forestry studies. 



The effects of riparian vegetation removal on water temperature, sources of large 

 woody debris and nutrients, and streambank stability are presented as "general" land 

 management concerns. The report does not attribute the relative importance of these 

 activities to different land management activities. 



