November 2006 Issue

Council Adopts Implementation Plan for Energy Adequacy Warning System

The Council adopted a plan to implement a warning system that would notify the region about its resource status. The Council and the Bonneville Power Administration formed the Resource Adequacy Forum to develop a regional resource adequacy standard to ensure the Northwest's power supply. The first part was an energy standard, adopted by the Council last May. The second part will be a capacity adequacy standard, expected to be adopted in December. The adequacy warning system explains how the Council and the region intend to implement both.

NOAA Fisheries Regional Director Calls Subbasin Plans Foundation for Salmon Recovery

Bob Lohn, the regional director for NOAA Fisheries, addressed the Council at its November meeting noting the value of the Council's subbasin plans. "The plans provide the most comprehensive information on the status of fish and habitat in the Columbia River Basin, and we would not have been able to make meaningful progress without them," stated Lohn. On the issue of hatchery reform, he said the review of hatchery programs would take another year or year and a half to complete. Commenting on a report by Save Our Wild Salmon that advocates removing the four federal dams along the lower Snake River, Lohn criticized the group's use of facts and said that salmon recovery is not as simple as removing dams.

Council Approves Decision Document on FY 2007-2009 Fish and Wildlife Funding Recommendations 

The Council approved the final decision document to complete its review process for FY 2007-2009 fish and wildlife funding. The document explains the process and the Council's funding recommendations required by the Northwest Power Act.