Northwest. Salmon and steelhead fisheries are key in the cultures and economies of many 

 Indian tribes of the Columbia River Basin. Salmon and steelhead also provide valuable 

 recreational experience for citizens from all areas of the United States, and the recreational 

 fishery contributes substantially to many local economies of the Columbia River Basin. 



Increased yields should not be transitory, but should be maintained into the future. An 

 important component of sustaining an increased fisheries yield is maintaining genetic 

 integrity and variability of salmon and steelhead stocks, to enable them to resist the 

 evolution and spread of disease organisms and to adapt to new or changed environments. 



(b) Protect, mitigate and enhance salmon and steelhead and their habitat affected by the 

 hydropower system while assuring an adequate, efficient, economical, and reliable power 

 supply. 



Low-cost hydropower is a mainstay of the Northwest economy. Activities to protect 

 fish, such as spill and alteration of flows, can affect the power supply. Through the 

 Northwest Power Act. Congress expressed its belief in the compatibility of healthy fisheries 

 and economical power operations. The Council is charged with ensuring this compatibility 

 in developing its fish and wildlife program. 



(c) Increase the level of scientific knowledge about salmon and steelhead by learning 

 from the actions undertaken on their behalf. 



There is much uncertainty about the biology of salmon and steelhead. Learning from 

 actions that are undertaken decreases the level of uncertainty; increases the level of 



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