6. Fish Passage Center 



In draft sections 304 and 404. tne Councii has proposed the Fish Passage Center as the point 

 ol contact between the fisn and wildlife agencies and Indian tribes and the hydropower system on 

 Water Budget ana spiii 'ssues Should tne Center also serve afethe point of contact on bypass and 

 transportation issues^ 



The program now provides for two fish passage m.anagers- one to represent the Indian tribes 

 and one to represent the fish and wildlife agencies. Would it be more appropriate to fund one fish 

 passage manager to represent both the Indian inpes and the fish and wildlife agencies'^ 



7. Protected Areas 



In section 1 503 of the current program, the Council states that one program goal is to protect 

 the ratepayer investment in the program and that an important way to do so is to ensure that new 

 hydroelectric oeveiooment is conditioned lo protect salmon and steelhead resident fish and 

 wildlife Section 1204(c) of the curient program reflects tnat goal in the Council s commitment to 

 designate stream reaches and wildlife habitat areas m the Columbia River Basin to be protected 

 from further hydroelectric development The Councn states that it will designate protected areas on 

 the basis of the requirements of the Northwest Power Act and the results of a study of the 

 hydroelectric potential of streams m the Columbia River Basin and the value of their fish and wildlife 

 resources The Council and Bonneville are neanng completion of that study, and it soon will be 

 important to identify the appropriate criteria for the study information to decide which areas in the 

 basin should be designated for protection from hydropower development. 



With respect to salmon and steelhead, Bonneville has dedicated substantial funds to 

 increasing natural and wild runs by providing spill and the Water Budget flows (resulting m lost 

 power revenues) and by funding habitat and tributary passage projects In light of those 

 investments, it may make sense for the Council to designate all natural and wiio production areas 

 in the basin for protection from new hydropower development The Oregon legisiaiure recently 

 enacted a statute to that effect withm its boundaries. The Council welcomes comments on whether 

 such an approach should be taken basmwide and suggestions tor any alternative ways to choose 

 protected areas for wildlife and resident fish, as well as salmon and steelhead 



8. System Alternatives for Salmon and Steelhead 



In sections 203 and 204 of this draft document the Council staff describes a planning process 

 designed to lead to discussion of and choices among broad harvest, production and passage 

 alternatives as well as the institutional framework needed to further those choices The Council 

 staff will circulate an issue paper on system alternatives in mio-Octooer That paper could address 

 a number of broad, long-term issues related to salmon and steelhead in the basin and the future of 

 the Council's program It could result in program amendments m addition to those proposed in 

 this document. All recipients of this draft amendment document will receive that paper as well The 

 Council will schedule a second round of hearings on the paper solicit wrnten comment, and 

 otherwise urge full and special attention to the issues it raises 



ADDITIONAL INFORMATION 



For additional information on the-proposed amendments and rejections readers may wish to 

 refer to the amendment applications, summary ot applications, issue papers, minutes of Council 



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