7. Create a stable fish and wildlife budget that can be managed in an 

 integrated manner . 



Stable funding for mitigation efforts is essential not only for an efficient mitigation 

 program, but to provide funding entities with some certainty regarding funding 

 obligations. The fish and wildlife budget agreement regarding Bonneville funds is a critical 

 step in this direction. While completely integrating Congressionally appropriated, state, 

 utility and other funds into this budget arrangement may not be possible, it should be 

 possible to take steps in this direction. Decisionmakers should explore ways to do so. 

 The goal should be to organize Columbia River fish and wildlife mitigation financing so 

 that funds can be managed in an integrated manner. 



8. Consider an execufive order . 



If an interagency agreement on these points is infeasible or ineffective, the Council 

 and others could seek an federal executive order commitung federal agencies to the above 

 processes, and seek the equivalent at the state level. 



COMMENTORS: Are there other innovations that decision makers should 

 pursue? Is it likely that these innovations could be effected? If these steps were 

 taken, would they make a substantial difference in the effectiveness of fish and 

 wildlife governance? Is it likely that they would make enough difference that 

 legislation would be unneeded? 



B. Limited legislation . 



Alternatively, to accomplish the objectives discussed in section IV the region could 

 pursue limited legislauon aimed primarily at implementaUon rather than making significant 

 change in governing structures or authorities. The following section outlines such 

 legislauon: 



1. Require all federal agencies to be consistent with the Council's fish and 

 wildlife program . 



Currently, only one federal agency -- the Bonneville Power Administration - is 

 required to be consistent with the Council's fish and wildlife program. Certain federal 

 agencies have other obligations with respect to the program, and many others do not. The 

 workshop report characterized the resulting problem: 



There are mukiple managers and programs within the Basin. To the extent that 

 they are pursuing basinwide goals they should act consistently with a single plan. 

 For instance, federal law does not now require that agencies other than Bonneville 

 Power Administration be consistent with the plan of the Power Planning Council 

 (although federal agencies responsible for the hydropower must take the Council's 



