410 



Recovery of Snake River salmon to harvestable populations would 

 generate new fishing- based jobs and substantial economic productivity 

 within the watershed and beyond. Steelhead sport-fishing now puts some 

 $15 million annually into the Idaho economy; salmon are potentially worth 

 three times that amount or more. U.S. sport anglers spend an average of 

 $985 per chinook salmon caught in Canada. Moreover, sport-angling for 

 salmon would create new jobs and income in rural communities of central 

 Idaho which have suffered a protracted economic downturn. For example, 

 the eight-day season on spring chinook surplus to the Rapid River Hatchery 

 in 1992 poured more than $250,000 into the economy of nearby Riggins. 

 Idaho and its population of 400. Regionally, even in its currently very 

 depressed state, salmon fishing — commercial, sport, and Tribal — still 

 generates $1 billion annually and maintains 60,000 jobs directly in the 

 Northwest economy. 



The Corps Should Immediately Modify Lower Granite Dam. and Test 

 Drawdown Operation 



The federal agencies responsible for Snake Basin salmon recovery, the 

 National Marine Fisheries Service and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, are 

 not acting diligenUy or promptly. It is the announced intention of the 

 National Marine Fisheries Service and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to 

 take 20 years for testing and implementing reservoir drawdowns. 



Declining salmon runs in the Snake River Basin do not have this time 

 to lose. Paralysis by analysis will doom Snake Basin salmon to extinction. 

 According to the review by agricultural economists, the single largest impact 

 on the local economy comes from uncertainty about the salmon recovery 

 plan and measures. 



Instead, the Corps should immediately modify Lower Granite Dam. and 

 test drawdown operation. To extend the adult fish ladder, install a low- 

 elevation juvenile by-pass channel, armor reservoir banks, and provide 

 economic mitigation for a one -pool Lower Granite drawdown would cost less 

 than $95 million — an affordable and reasonable investment for a measure 

 which holds so much promise. The Corps of Engineers should proceed with 

 this prototype program immediately and with all due speed. Following a 

 successful test of the Lower Granite modification, the Corps should 

 implement drawdowns for all four Lower Snake reservoirs. 



Drawdowns Offer Greatest Promise — Page 6 



