To aid the Council and region in focusing discussions on these issues, this issue paper 

 explores: 



1 . the history and status of the wildlife program; 



2. the development and content of the mitigation proposals before the Council; 



3. issues often raised concerning the wildlife program; and 



4. several alternatives the Council may wish to pursue when making a decision on the wildlife 

 mitigation proposals. 



BACKGROUND 



The Wildlife Mitigation Planning Process 



The Council's wildlife program contains a series of planning measures designed to formulate 

 wildlife mitigation plans for each of the hydroelectric facilities^ in the Columbia River Basin. This 

 planning process contains the following components. (In some cases, the planning process can 

 be modified to combine or eliminate various steps.) 



1. Mitigation Status Reports 



This planning measure (Section 1003(b)(1)) provided the Council with a review and analysis 

 of the status of past, present and proposed wildlife planning and mitigation programs at each of the 

 hydroelectric facilities in the basin. The status reports documented the need to pursue further 

 wildlife planning at each of the hydroelectric Polities. (Copies of the reports can be obtained from 

 the Council's Public Involvement Division.) This measure was funded by Bonneville and was 

 completed by the region's agencies and tribes in 1984. 



2. WlldlifS Loss Statsmsnts 



Tbe second planning step (Section 1003(b)(2)) in the wildlife program calls for Bonneville to 

 fund the development of wildlife loss statements at each of the hydroelectric facilities identified 

 from the mitigation status reports. The loss statements are being developed by the appropriate 

 wildlife agencies and tribes. The wildlife loss statements quantify the net impacts (positive and 

 negative) to wildlife and/or wildlife habitat from the construction and operation of a hydroelectric 



2J Qenerally this issue paper is directed towards mitigation plans at federal hydroelectric facilities. 

 HowsMsr, the issue of how the Council's wildlife program directs wildlife planning at non-federal 

 projects remains unresolved and the Council is seeking comments on how to resolve the issue 

 as noted below. (See page 23.) 



37 Although several contracts between Bonneville and the agencies and tribes called for a 

 quantification of impacts from the construction and operation of hydroelectric facilities, most 

 loss statements and mitigation plans dealt strictly with impacts from construction, i.e., 

 inundation. The agencies and tribes have stated they believe they can examine "system 

 operation impacts" once the planning for the individual hydroelectrk; plans are complete. 



