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Mr. F. L. Cassidy, Jr., Chair
Northwest Power Planning Council
851 SW Sixth Avenue, Suite 1100
Portland, Oregon 97204-1348
Dear Mr. Cassidy:
This is in response to your January 12, 2000, Notice of Request For Recommendations for amendments to the Northwest Power Planning Council's (Council) Columbia River Basin Fish and Wildlife Program (Program). The Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) has developed the following recommendations for amendment to the Program under Section 4(h)(2) of the Northwest Electric Power Planning and Conservation Act. We appreciate the Council's key role in the past in guiding protection, mitigation and enhancement measures for the Columbia Basin's fish and wildlife resources that have been impacted by the construction and operation of the Federal Columbia River Power System (FCRPS). Several species have been listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) since the Program was last amended in 1995 and we view the Council's current amendment process as an important opportunity to improve fish and wildlife recovery efforts.
The Service currently is engaged in formal consultations under Section 7 of the ESA with the Bonneville Power Administration, Corps of Engineers, and the Bureau of Reclamation regarding the effects of the FCRPS on threatened and endangered fish and wildlife species. We will be preparing a biological opinion regarding the effects of the FCRPS on Kootenai River white sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus), bull trout (Salvelinus confluentus), and bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucoecphalus). The Service is also working with the other federal agencies in the region in developing the paper called the Conservation of Columbia Basin Fish - Building a Conceptual Recovery Plan (All H paper). The Service also recently completed a recovery plan for Kootenai River white sturgeon and is developing a recovery plan for bull trout. These documents, which have either been completed or are in preparation, will be key sources for actions to include in the Council's future Program. We intend to supplement the attached recommendations with this additional information as it becomes available.
We appreciate the opportunity to submit recommendations and look forward to working with the Council in amending its Program and in strengthening fish and wildlife restoration efforts in the Columbia River Basin.
Sincerely,
