25 



conducted by the Corps of Engineers and biological monitoring 

 being conducted by NMFS. 



Regarding research efforts, the Corps assures that evaluations 

 which it funds on salmon passage at its projects are fully coordi- 

 nated with regional entities and programs. It accomplishes this 

 through an interagency technical review and oversight process 

 called Anadromous Fish Evaluation Program. The Corps is working 

 with NMFS to bring this research program into processes estab- 

 lished under the Pacific Salmon Coordinating Committee, or the 

 forum currently proposed by NMFS for implementing the recovery 

 plan. A coordination team will continue to consult with Indian 

 tribes. Federal and State fish agencies, the Power Planning Coun- 

 cil, and other interested parties to assure that they have adequate 

 opportunity to review and to provide recommendations throughout 

 the development and implementation of Corps-funded studies. We 

 will continue the annual study review meetings to provide prelimi- 

 nary and final study reports to all interested parties. 



In conclusion, we have underway in the region a comprehensive 

 and ambitious plan of measures and evaluations to improve sur- 

 vival of the salmon at the Federal hydro projects. Because of the 

 complex life cycle of the salmon and the many factors that influ- 

 ence their survival, there is much uncertainty whether all of these 

 actions will result in benefits to the fish. We must continue to learn 

 from our actions and modify them as necessary. The NMFS Biologi- 

 cal Opinion, proposed recovery plan, and our research process are 

 intended to assure just that. 



Results from turbine efficiency studies, gas abatement studies, 

 surface collection evaluations, among others, will be considered as 

 we make future decisions. 



Spilling for juvenile fish is to provide interim protection for the 

 juvenile fish until long-term protection measures can be imple- 

 mented. Spill is considered to be a safe method of passing the fish 

 as long as it is carefully monitored to control gas supersaturation. 



Mr. Chairman, that concludes my oral statement. I d be happy to 

 answer any questions you might have. 



Senator Kempthorne. Colonel, thank you very much. 



I want to make a note on what you just said before we move on 

 here. 



Now, let me turn to Mr. Ed Bowles, the Anadromous Fish Man- 

 ager, Idaho Department of Fish and Game. 



STATEMENT OF ED BOWLES, ANADROMOUS FISH MANAGER, 

 IDAHO DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME 



Mr. Bowles. Gk)od morning, Senator Kempthorne. 



Thank you for the opportunity to testify on NMFS' spill policy 

 which is an important plank in Northwest salmon and steelhead 

 recovery efforts. 



Idaho Department of Fish and Game supports spillway passage 

 of juvenile salmon smolts as they migrate over dams in the lower 

 Snake and Columbia Rivers. Managed spill is a valuable and sci- 

 entifically valid recovery tool. NMFS' spill policy reflects this fact. 



There are few on the scientific panel who were really in support 

 of spill but I'd like to emphasize that this is not really representa- 

 tive of the issue. All of the State and tribal salmon management 



