245 



DRAFT 



"This [gravel extraction] has probably contributed to the lack of recovery 

 of pink and chum salmon stocks in coastal rivers. ' 



As discussed previously, pink salmon are not indigenous to Oregon, therefore, it is 

 unlikely that mining has prevented the "lack of recovery" of these fish within this state. 



SectioD 2.3. Environmental Phenomena 

 Page 100, 2.3.1. Natural Phenomena 



The following passage is inaccurate and misleading: 



Every two to seven years, a reversal in tropical Pacific wind and ocean 

 currents generally occurs. This phenomena, termed El Nino, (sic) brings 

 warm surface waters and easterly winds to the West coast of the 

 Americas. Upwelling and subsequently primary productivity, is 

 suppressed. . . " 



Whereas El Nifios are common in South America, contrary to the impression presented. 

 El Ninos of a magnitude to bring warm water to the coast of Oregon have been rare. 

 Only 4 times in the past 50 years has this happened: 1941, 1957-58, 1982-83, and 

 1992. 



Page 101, 2.3.2. Predation and Competition 



Introduction. Natural Predation (pages 101-102) 



These two paragraphs are one of the few places in the report where predation is 

 accurately presented as a natural, important, or positive influence in biological systems: 



'...salmonids are also an integral component of a complex, natural 

 ecosystem. ' 



"...they [salmonids] represent a food source to natural predators... ' 



'Salmonids have always been exposed to predation. They coevolved with 

 their predators in the natural environment without either completely 

 avoiding or succumbing to them. ' 



However, these accurate descriptions of the significance of adaptive evolution, long- 

 standing trophic interactions, and energy transfer immediately give way to the 

 overriding premise that, due to various population and environmental changes, current 

 predator-prey relationships in the marine environment have been "reshaped". The 



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