Cowlitzfisherman (CFM) and others,

I don't think griping on this BB about the Cowlitz project is the best way to influence the outcome. FERC will issue a draft EIS on the Cowlitz license in the coming months. When they do, that is the public opportunity to comment. What is it, specifically, that you want out of this that isn't included in the settlement agreement and probably new license?

If you just want to gripe and ***** at Tacoma and the agencies, well, that's your perogotive, but it won't do much to change the outcome. Further, the Federal Power Act doesn't require that Tacoma give us a fishery that we feel good about. It does require that Tacoma provide full mitigation for the adverse effects of the impacts of its hydro project.

If everything goes perfect (which I doubt), there will be restored wild runs passing above the dams and hatchery runs that provide us with harvestable fish every year and especially when the wild ones don't. Under the worst case scenario, the settlement has a contingency for the restoration being a complete failure. In that case, the renovated hatchery is planned and programmed to provide as many or more salmon and steelhead as there would be as if Tacoma's dams did not exist on the Cowlitz River. While money is certainly the bottom line for Tacoma, my read is that they are on the hook to make good on the Cowlitz fishery. The new license is going to cost them tens of millions of dollars. There is no incentive that I can see for them to not make fish restoration happen. In fact, if it doesn't happen, Tacoma has to keep spending and spending on fish passage either until it works or the agencies give up on it.
In which case, it's back to the hatchery-only based program.

It's probably easiest to be an arm chair critic of the agencies, but you might be part of the solution. Again, what is it, that you're entitled to under the applicable laws, that the new license won't give you? I'll get any reasonable and solid responses to people who have a chance to influence the license. Whether they can or will may be another matter, but I'll do what I can, even if I disagree with you.

Sincerely,

Salmo g.