280 



9 

 Enact regulations that would facilitate allotting that water 

 to instrean flows. 



HMFS also is committed to wor)cing with the Corps of Engineers 

 toward the early implementation of the biological testing of 

 drawdown of Snake River reservoirs. Drawdown remains an 

 alternative for improving instream passage conditions that must 

 be developed and evaluated to determine viability. 



On existing instit utions and institutional arrangements — Some ^^ 

 changes maybe necessary in existing institutions and 

 institutional arrangements but NMFS believes that these changes 

 can be made without significant modifications to the existing 

 Council make-up or process. In NMFS opinion the most critical 

 need for the Council to consider is an evaluation of new 

 institutional arrangements that will provide improved 

 coordination between the Federal, State, and tribal entities and 

 greater accountability for implementing Council program tasks. 



Water management coordination throughout the Columbia Basin 

 remains fragmented under different State and Federal authorities. 

 NMFS appreciates the efforts of the Council to increase the 

 amount of water available to fish and wildlife in the region and 

 it's efforts to oversee through the Fish Operations Executive 

 Committee, the coordination of available water. This task, 

 however, requires a longer term solution. The water demands for 



