As I understand it, TCL took over operation of the dam. I think they installed turbines in a flood-control dam. So, their mitigation was for the fish life destroyed by the turbine operation. They negotiated an agreement with WDF and WDG (separately) for mitigation for the agency's fish. As I heard it, WDG took the money, used it to upgrade the Lake ASberdeen hatchery, and agreed that THEY would fund the agreed-to steelhead production. WDF agreed to accept the money and use it to produce (the agreed mitigation number) of salmon.

Having agreed to a number, WDF was in a bad place when they wanted to use the money to fix habitat and basically admitted that it would produce fewer fish than TCL was on the hook for. This did not go over well, locally. So, the money sits. As alluded to, there was even more money that sat there until Bush II needed it for Afganistan, so it went away.

As I understand it, the $2M (+ interest??) is just sitting there in an account. The untrusting part of me does not believe it is still there.