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 and State sources. We believe that adequate funding of the 

 council's program now, and its success in precluding any 

 additional listing in the Basin in the future, is far more cost 

 effective than the costs of recovery for listing individual 

 species under the ESA. 



on flows for power production and salmon recovery — MMTS 

 believes adequate flows are essential to the survival of Columbia 

 Basin salmon and steelhead. Columbia Basin salmon evolved in a 

 river system with high annual spring run-off. The timing of th«k, 

 annual migration of juvenile salmon to the ocean coincides with 

 the natural peak flow season. Development of the hydropower 

 system has altered this regime, storing the high spring run-off 

 for irrigation in the summer and power production in the winter. 

 Public and industrial water conservation has some potential to 

 contribute to flows for fish as do new innovative power marketing 

 alternatives to make more water available at peak salmon 

 migration times. 



NMFS believes the conflict between the timing for power needs and 

 those of migrating salmon must be resolved by adjustments in 

 hydropower operations. Certainly, the natural run time of salmon 

 cannot be modified. We understand that BPA recently has been 

 exploring different marketing approaches and seasonal exchanges 

 that would benefit fish. NMFS is encouraged by this willingness 

 to look at marketing alternatives that will reward operations 



