492 



Lower Granite Dam that has to be in place in order to proceed with drawdown evaluations. 

 Another alternative is to construct a permanent low-level juvenile bypass system by 1997 that 

 would provide for evaluation of reservoir drawdown and the option for operational 

 drawdowns. We will continue to work through the Council's process and with the Federal 

 action agencies to evaluate alternatives and implement drawdown. 



The Service believes that the Council's Fish Operations Executive Committee (FOEC), a 

 forum for coordination of mainstem passage matters, has been effective in resolving a 

 number of conflicts. In August 1993, for example, the Corps of Engineers refilled Little 

 Goose and Lower Monumental reservoirs from minimum operating pool without consultation 

 through FOEC. Because significant numbers of listed Snake River fall chinook salmon 

 juveniles were still migrating through the lower Snake River, the Fish and Wildlife Service 

 and Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife elevated the issue to FOEC for dispute 

 resolution. As a result of the FOEC process and subsequent discussions among the Federal 

 action agencies, the Corps of Engineers agreed to draw the reservoirs back down to 

 minimum operating pool to improve migration conditions for juvenile fall chinook salmon. 



We also appreciate and support the Council's efforts to improve operations of hatcheries in 

 the Columbia River Basin. Regionally integrated policies for hatchery operations are being 

 developed through the Council's Integrated Hatchery Operations Team funded by Bonneville. 

 Policy statements and goals have been drafted for fish health, ecological interactions, 

 genetics, hatchery performance standards, and regional hatchery coordination. The members 

 of the Columbia Basin Fish and Wildlife Authority are expected to approve the policy 

 statements and goals at the September meeting. Guidelines for operating the hatcheries under 

 these broad policies are being developed and criteria for evaluating and auditing hatchery 

 operations are nearly complete. 



2) Is implementation of the Strategy for Salmon on track for timely completion? How 

 well are federal and state agencies coordinating their activities with each other and 

 with the Council to achieve timely implementation? 



