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May 12, 2000
Frank L. Cassidy, Jr., Chair
Northwest Power Planning Council
851 S.W. Sixth Avenue, Suite 1100
Portland, Oregon 97204-1348
Re: Oregon's Phase I Amendment and High Priority Action Recommendations
Dear Mr. Cassidy:
On behalf of the State of Oregon, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is submitting the attached recommendations for "A Policy and Scientific Framework for the Northwest Power Planning Council's Columbia Basin Fish and Wildlife Program " and for High Priority Actions. Our recommendations are in response to a request by the Council on April 11, 2000.
In its April 11, 2000 notice, the Council states its intent to initiate a second phase of the Program amendment process (subbasin planning) not long after adoption of the framework into the Program (August 2000 target date) and to complete subbasin plans "over the following year". Although we believe subbasin plans should be completed expeditiously, we feel that a one-year time frame is inadequate to complete the plans. The enormous breadth (53 subbasins) and scope (comprehensive subbasin and watershed assessments and plans for anadromous fish, resident fish, and wildlife) and coordination requirements (all of regional entities including the public and local stakeholders) of this planning effort simply cannot be completed in one year. Additional time will be needed to coordinate the Council's planning effort with planning efforts in Oregon including natural production planning under HB 3609, water quality planning under Section 303(d) and SB 1010, and planning under the Oregon Plan for Salmon and Watersheds.
In order to meet these planning needs of Oregon, we recommend that the Council adopt a three year schedule for completion of subbasin plans that includes public review requirements of Oregon. After this three year period, the plans will be submitted to the Council for adoption into the Program. In the interim, existing management plans and the best subbasin information available at the time should be used in implementing the Fish and Wildlife Program
We appreciate the opportunity to submit these recommendations.