The Council is getting closer to a possible decision on whether to approve releasing a draft of the Ninth Power Plan to the public. The vote may come as soon as its meeting in Portland on July 14-15. If approved, it would commence a public comment period and hearing process in the four-state region. The public would be invited to attend hearings held in cities and towns across the Pacific Northwest and provide their input and thoughts on the proposed plan. The goal is to adopt the final Ninth Plan by the end of the year.

On June 16, the Council voted unanimously to adopt the final 2026 Columbia Basin Fish and Wildlife Program. This article offers a detailed look at some of the 2026 Program’s major priorities and themes.

Over the course of two meetings in May, Council members and Power Division staff continued discussions on options for the Ninth Power Plan’s cost-effective resource strategy. The Council could potentially approve a draft of the Ninth Plan at its July 14-15 meeting in Portland, which would commence a public comment period and hearing process. The goal is to approve the final plan by the end of the year.

The Council listened to a presentation on the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation’s First Foods management approach at its May meeting in Pendleton, Ore.