Jim Ruff re-joined Council staff in 2006, and is responsible for monitoring implementation of measures in the Council's Mainstem Amendments to the Fish & Wildlife Program, as well as analyzing potential impacts and costs of major power system operations and proposed actions on fish.

From 1999 to 2006, Jim was Chief of the FCRPS Branch in Hydro Division at NMFS. His Branch was responsible for salmon passage facilities, flow and spill operations, transportation, survival, water quality and related RM&E issues associated with the 14 major mainstem federal hydroelectric projects of the Columbia-Snake River system, including review of related activities under the ESA. Prior to NMFS, he was a senior hydrologist for 15 years in the Fish & Wildlife Division at the Council. Before that, Jim was a planning engineer for the OR Water Resources Dept. responsible for supervising development of river basin water use policies, plans and hydrologic studies. He began his career as a water quality planner and environmental engineer conducting policy and technical studies in water quality for the Wisconsin Dept. of Natural Resources.

Jim has a Master of Science degree in Water Resources Management from the University of Wisconsin in Madison and a BS in engineering from Georgia Tech in Atlanta. He is a registered Professional Hydrologist with the American Institute of Hydrology and is currently President of the Oregon Section. He is also a member of the American Water Resources Association.