To rebuild fish and wildlife populations, 

 we must consider their well-being whenever 

 our actions intersect with theirs. We must 

 change the way we operate our dams, irri- 

 gate our farms, ship our commodities and 

 fish in our waters. 



This fish and wildlife program was 

 crafted with all of these elements in mind. 

 It is designed to help guide the regional 

 transition to a more conscientious future, 

 one in which fish and wildlife can thrive 

 without hobbling our economy, and the 

 economy can flourish without killing off the 

 fish or wildlife. 



Who pays? 



We have no doubt that the Northwest can 

 make this transition, but it will not come 

 cheaply, quickly or without complications. 

 The first steps taken over the past decade 

 have already cost hundreds of millions of 

 dollars. Much of that came from electricity 

 ratepayers. 



In 1991, Bonneville Power Administra- 

 tion costs to implement the Council's fish 

 and wildlife program totaled approximately 

 $160 million. These costs include program 

 projects, reimbursements to other federal 

 agencies and lost power revenues from 

 changes in the operation of the hydroelectric 

 system. 



X 



he cost of the new ratepayer- funded 

 actions in this revised program will vary 

 depending on water conditions, but they are 

 expected to average about $100 million each 

 year. This figure includes lost power revenues 

 from increasing flows for fish and new 

 research and other new measures in the pro- 

 gram. This amount translated into an increase 

 of about 4 percent in Bonneville's 1993 

 wholesale power rates. The increase at the 

 retailievel varied by utility, but on average, 

 the retail increase was about 2 percent. 



Bonneville also is repaying past invest- 

 ments for fish ladders that were installed 

 when the dams were built, for salmon 

 barging facilities, and for protective screens 

 and bypass systems at the dams. 



But this program recognizes that the dams 

 were not the only cause of the fish and wild- 

 life decline. So, funding to address damages 

 not caused by the dams must also be provided 

 by regional, national and local sources. 



We ask the states to absorb some costs, 

 such as the expense of administering 

 necessary changes in salmon management. 

 In addition, the Endangered Species Act is 

 federal legislation, and regional actions to 

 comply with the Act address national as well 

 as regional concerns. Federal agencies must 

 assume an appropriate share of responsibility 

 for paying the cost of recovering listed 

 species. 



1980 



Congress passes the Northwest Power Act, which allows Idaho, Montana, 

 Oregon and Washington to form the Northwest Power Planning Council. 



1982 



Northwest Power Planning Council approves first 

 Columbia River Basin Fish and Wildlife Progran). 



