107 



evaluated, the survivals of juvenile salmon-in bypasses have been slightly better, to 

 slightly worse than in the turbines. 



Transportation carries risks of its own. So far this year, more than 21 thousand 

 mortalities of juvenile salmonids have been counted during the process of collection 

 and loading for transport. Two single instances of mass mortality involving tiiou- 

 sands of juvenile salmon as a consequence of human error have been docvunented 

 in the transportation program since 1987. Since monitoring of the well being of the 

 juveniles in the transport barges is difficult, I have little confidence that other than 

 catastrophic mortalities during transportation could be detected. 



In summary, I believe the National Marine Fisheries Service has acted prudently 

 in selecting spill as a recovery tool for endangered salmon in the Snake River. I also 

 note that the spill policy of NMFS is as scientifically vfdid as any recovery policy 

 for Snake River salmon can be, given the limitations of the available data. I also 

 note that the limitations of the available data are due to a research process which 

 lacks coherent direction and independent peer review, even though it has been his- 

 torically very well funded. I address improvements needed in the research process 

 under decision making, item 5, below. 



2. What independent scientific research is being conducted to monitor the effects 

 of spill and its alternatives in the Columbia River system? Please comment on the 

 results of relevant studies. 



Since all scientific research on salmon in the Columbia River basin is financed 

 by public and private institutions which can dictate the scope, objectives, and con- 

 tent of the work, I am not aware of any independent scientific research to monitor 

 the effects of spill and its alternatives in the Columbia River system at the present 

 time. There are a number of relevant studies being conducted by state. Federal and 

 tribed entities. 



A. THE NMFS JUVENILE FISH TRANSPORTATION STUDIES 



Coastal Zone and Estuarine Studies Division (CZES) of NMFS is conducting a 

 study to compare the survival of transportation to that of fish which have started 

 via spill. The design of the study does not permit the effects of transport and spill 

 to be measured on the spawning grounds, and the final results will not be available 

 for several vears, but potentially important information may be forthcoming. The ef- 

 fects of spill are averaged with those of turbine and bypass down river fi'om where 

 the fish are transported. 



B. THE NMFSAJW JUVENILE SALMON REACH SURVIVAL STUDIES 



Also by CZES/NMFS and the University of Washington (Skalski) is the reach (a 

 portion of the river) survival study which should help to understand the ability of 

 spill to deliver juveniles through the lower Snake River hydroelectric system. The 

 enects of spill, turbines, and bjrpasses are not separable in these studies, but these 

 data make it possible to compare average survivals during controlled spill to aver- 

 age survivals under no spill. Results fix)m 1995 have been collected and they should 

 be available in September, or earlier. 



C. FISHERIES AGENCIES AND U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS TRIBES MONITORING 



PROGRAMS 



Under the aegis of the Columbia Basin Fish and Wildlife Authority, a number of 

 state. Federal and tribal entities are conducting individual and cooperative studies 

 of gas bubble trauma, and the Corps is monitoring total dissolved gas levels at a 

 number of localities adjacent to the dams it operates. Juvemle salmon, adult salm- 

 on, and resident fish species are monitored for symptoms of gas bubble trauma in 

 the Columbia River system. Monitoring of juvemle salmon occurs at the hydro- 

 electric dams where sampling facilities make this possible. Preliminary studies to 

 observe gas bubble trauma in active emigrants in the reservoirs are in progress. Re- 

 sults from up to eight juvenile salmon dam sampling sites in the Snake River basin 

 and the middle Columbia River are reported daily for juvenile salmon by the Fish 

 Passage Center, Portland, Oregon. Adults are examined at the upper most of the 

 lower Snake River dams after they have passed through the zone of nitrogen 

 Supersaturated waters downstream. Resident fish are monitored below Dworshak 

 Dam on a Snake River tributary. 



Results so far show little if any symptoms in juveniles and adult salmon and resi- 

 dent species. These programs provide useful information, but they are relatively 

 new so results need to viewed with caution. My best professional judgment is that 

 the results indicate no apparent problems for the migrating juvenile salmon as a 

 result of nitrogen supersaturation. Some symptoms of nitrogen supersaturation 

 have been detected in a small portion of resident fish so far examined, however the 



