August 14, 2003

The Council this week endorsed a draft agreement negotiated by state and federal authorities and other entities that will allow important projects to move forward to benefit fish and wildlife in northwestern Montana near Flathead Lake.

A memorandum of agreement is being negotiated by project sponsors and the Bonneville Power Administration to proceed with the purchase of conservation easements in the Fisher River drainage and the Weaver and McWinegar sloughs.

"We know this agreement is very close to being finalized, and we are optimistic the parties will complete this in the near future," Council Fish and Wildlife Chair Ed Bartlett of Montana said. "The Council thought these projects were beneficial when we approved them about three years ago. It is important that they finally come to fruition."

The Fisher River property includes 56,400 acres currently owned by the Plum Creek Timber Company, which agreed to sell a conservation easement that will maintain the property as wildlife habitat while allowing some limited logging. The Council recommended that the Bonneville Power Administration contribute $1.5 million toward the $13 million appraised value of the conservation easement. Other parties, including the state and federal governments and Plum Creek Timber, will contribute the remainder. The Weaver and McWinegar slough easements will be sold by five private parties. The Council had recommended funding of $1.08 million.

Bonneville's participation in the Montana projects is subject to a memorandum of agreement that clarifies how the purchases will be credited against fish losses caused by the construction of hydropower dams. Bonneville has a legal obligation to mitigate the fish and wildlife impacts of hydropower dams ? Libby and Hungry Horse, for the Montana properties. Parties to the memorandum of agreement, in addition to Bonneville, include the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks and the Flathead Land Trust. The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes and the Kootenai Tribe of Idaho also participated in the negotiations.

The Council is an agency of the states of Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington and is directed by the Northwest Power Act of 1980 to prepare a program to protect, mitigate and enhance fish and wildlife of the Columbia River Basin affected by hydropower dams while also assuring the region an adequate, efficient, economical and reliable power supply.