I. Introduction 



In the energy and water appropriations legislation for 1996, adopted November 

 13, 1995, Congress directed the Northwest Power Planning Council to report to Congress 

 within 180 days "regarding the most appropriate governance structure to allow more 

 effective regional control over efforts to conserve and enhance anadromous and resident 

 fish and wildlife within the Federal Columbia River Power System." 



This document summarizes the themes and strategies on which the Council 

 proposes to base its report to Congress and invites public comment on a number of issues 

 and proposals. 



PUBLIC COMMENT: Written comment will be received through April 1, 1996 

 and should be addressed to the Northwest Power Planning Council Public Affairs 

 Division, 851 S. W. 6th Ave., Portland, Oregon 97204. In addition to receiving written 

 comment the Council will conduct public meetings in Idaho, Montana, Oregon and 

 Washington throughout the month of April. The Council will provide times and locations 

 for these meetings through Update and other Council publications. The Council 

 particularly invites comment on the questions highlighted below in bold. 



The Council will prepare a final report and may initiate further consultations with 

 interested parties up to May 14, the date on which the report to Congress is due. 



FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Contact the Northwest Power Planning 

 Council Central Office, 851 S. W. 6th Ave., Portland, Oregon 97204 or telephone 1-503- 

 222-5161 or outside the Portland area, 1-800-222-3355. In addition to copies of this 

 paper, the Council will provide on request the Report of the Workshop on Fish and 

 Wildlife Governance by David H. Getches (request document no. 96-3) and Background 

 Materials for the Workshop on Fish and Wildlife Governance (request document no. 96- 

 1). 



II. Background 



To respond to Congress's instructions, the Council adopted the following process: 

 During December 1995 and early January 1996, the Council sought advice from diverse 

 parties on alternative approaches that might be taken to fish and wildlife governance 

 reform. On February 1-2, 1996, the Council conducted a facilitated workshop in which 

 key alternatives were probed, elaborated and evaluated. A report by David Getches, the 

 workshop facilitator, was submitted to the Council on February 12. In preparing the 

 following proposal, the Council has relied heavily on the recommendations resulting from 

 the workshop. Written public comment will be received through April 4. The Council 

 will prepare a final report and may initiate further consultations with interested parties up 

 to May 14, the date on which the report to Congress is due. 



