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Dear Mr. Walker:
Attached, please find a list of recommendations for amendments of the Columbia River Basin Fish and Wildlife Program. The recommendations primarily address early action items, although some suggested recommendations also address the proposed restructuring of the program into an explicit framework.
The City of Portland appreciates the opportunity to participate in the Council’s amendment process and applauds the Council for exercising leadership in establishing clearer goals and objectives for fish and wildlife protection, mitigation and recovery in the Columbia River Basin.
As you know, the City of Portland is taking an aggressive response to the recent listings of anadromous species within its jurisdiction and to ensure that response also addresses obligations under the Clean Water Act and other federal statutes. We recognize however, that the City’s efforts must be coordinated with larger regional work in order to succeed.
The City is confident that work within the City of Portland, the Willamette Basin, the lower Columbia Province and the entire Columbia Basin can be made more effective through improved cooperation with the Council and its partners. In that regard, the City is developing a comprehensive framework to guide its recovery actions and its day-to-day activities. The framework approach is designed to ensure a good fit with the efforts you are undertaking on behalf of the region as a whole.
The City looks forward to working with you as you move ahead with your amendment process, early action project review and selection, and your rolling reviews. Once again, the City appreciates the opportunity to participate in the amendment process.
Sincerely,
Jim Middaugh
Manager
Endangered Species Act Program