63 



discussing the charter and composition of the Independent Scientific Group with 

 Bonneville, the fisheries agencies, tribes, utilities and others. We encourage the 

 Team to endorse this important independent scientific undertaking. 



Because of our concern about the complexities of all the current processes, 

 we urged that any institutional reforms be designed to fit with existing 

 organizations and that all efforts be made to avoid creating additional layers of 

 process solely for Endangered Species Act compliance. We are particularly 

 concerned that the Team's proposed Salmon Oversight Committee duplicates 

 activities of the Northwest Power Planning Council and the previously mentioned 

 Independent Scientific Group. Additionally, such a committee could further 

 diminish the role and influence of the Northwest states. The region has a long 

 way to go in salmon recovery, but establishing yet another set of procedures is not 

 the answer. Existing procedures must be streamlined so that the Endangered 

 Species Act, the Northwest Power Act. the federal government's trust obligations to 

 Indian Tribes and the rebuilding commitment of the Pacific Salmon Treaty can be 

 addressed in a coordinated and efficient manner. Improved federal, state and 

 local coordination is essential. 



We appreciate the work of the Recovery Team, and we are ready to work 

 with the Fisheries Service to ensure effiective implementation of salmon recovery 

 measures. But in order to be an effective partner, we need to be involved in 

 consultations with the federal agencies under Section 7 of the Endangered Species 

 Act. These consultations - on dam operations, hatcheries, harvest, habitat — 

 concern impacts on salmon that we directly address with measures in our 

 Strategy for Salmon. The states, through the Power Planning Council, simply 

 must be given a meaningful, participatory role in these consultations. The 

 Governors have requested this, and it could be done with the stroke of a pen. 



Habitat and Production 



In the habitat and production areas, we find the Recovery Team's 

 recommendations compatible with our Strategy. The Team's call for uniform 

 habitat standards fits very well with the Council's habitat performance standards. 

 The goal of maintaining high-quality habitat while initiating actions to improve 

 lower-quality habitat is also consistent with the Strategy. 



11 



