Contact

Carol Winkel

Communications Specialist

Carol Winkel joined the Council in July 2000 as a communications specialist. Carol is responsible for writing articles for the Council's newsletter, producing and editing brochures and public information documents, drafting correspondence, and helping to implement the Council's public involvement projects. Prior to coming to the Council, Carol worked in Portland Mayor Vera Katz's office for six years, the last four as the assistant director of international relations. Carol has a bachelor of arts degree in English literature from Reed College and attended graduate school in English at the University of Oregon.

cwinkel@nwcouncil.org

503-222-5161

Carol's recent news posts

The Hanford Reach: A Stretch of River Reborn and a Salmon Run Preserved

The Hanford Reach of the Columbia River is the only free-flowing portion of the river in the U.S., home to 70 percent of the Chinook salmon that spawn in the Columbia system.

Water Supply Outlook Suggests Near Normal Snowpack, Late Runoff

It’s been a colder winter for us in the Pacific Northwest, which has meant a healthy snowpack and a later runoff for now.

Understanding the Value of Weatherization: Protecting people and the power system in extreme weather

Intense heat waves and winter storms with extreme temperatures have underscored the need to strengthen the power system’s ability to withstand these stresses, in part through well-insulated homes and buildings.

Ocean Conditions Are Challenging Salmon, Emphasizing Need for Management Actions

Despite good ocean conditions in the recent years, the trend for the future is not encouraging, according to NOAA Supervisory Research Fish Biologist Brian Burke.

Ensuring Funding for the Long-term Maintenance of Fish Hatcheries, Fish Screens, and Lands

The Council was briefed on the continued support for addressing non-recurring maintenance needs for past fish and wildlife investments in hatcheries, fish screens, and mitigation lands.

Columbia River Basin Fish Returns and Forecast for 2023

WDFW & IDFG gave an overview of the 2022 adult Chinook, coho, sockeye, and chum salmon and steelhead runs for the Columbia River and expectations for the 2023 fisheries, including information on the Snake River Basin salmon and steelhead returns and the forecast returns for 2023.

Emerging Technologies in Energy Efficiency: Advanced heat pumps, sensors, and automated controls pave path to future savings

Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance briefed the Council on some promising technologies in energy efficiency, as the 2021 Power Plan includes strong recommendations for continued investments in emerging technologies.

Invasive Species Prevention in the Columbia River Basin

When invasive and non-native species become introduced into a location, the results can be devastating. From aquatic mussels to wild pigs, they can spread disease, feed on endangered species, compete for resources, overwhelm native species, reduce diversity, and often create cascading effects to the food web.

Updated Wholesale Electricity Price Forecast: Planning for volatile wholesale market prices during peak times of day, night

Wholesale power markets in the West are a key factor to review annually to track the Council 's 2021 Power Plan, as well as helping utilities in their own price forecasts and providing avoided market emissions rate guidance for state agencies developing building codes.

New Fish and Wildlife Program Tracker Is Live!

This new tool is designed to help evaluate the performance of the Council’s Columbia River Basin Fish and Wildlife Program. The Program Tracker compiles and displays data and information on Strategy Performance Indicators to track the status of ecological and biological conditions.

Integrating energy and the environment in the Columbia River Basin

See what the Council is up to.

Explore News By Topic

The Council works to protect and enhance fish and wildlife in the Columbia River Basin. Its Fish & Wildlife Program guides project funding by the Bonneville Power Administration.

The Fish and Wildlife Program

Independent Review Groups

Forums and Workgroups

Topics

The Council develops a plan, updated every five years, to ensure the region’s power supply and acquire cost-effective energy efficiency.

The Northwest Power Plan

Technical Tools and Models

Energy Advisory Committees

Energy Topics

Recent and Upcoming Meetings

Browse reports and documents relevant to the Council's work on fish and wildlife and energy planning, as well as administrative reports.

REPORTS BY TOPIC

COLUMBIA RIVER HISTORY PROJECT