Aunty - We agree that this points to a less favorable outcome for wild Pacific salmon.

And I didn't mean to suggest that Congress will 'fix' the problem. Their intent would be to cement into place the plan that is currently being reviewed by Judge Redden (if he tosses it out). Legislative action would completely cancel anything related to ESA. In other words, if Congress passed legislation that stated the current Federal hydropower biological opinion for the Columbia is sufficient to satisfy the ESA, the game is over. That trumps everything. Except of course, extinction.

I would invite Salmo g or Todd or Smalma to add their perspective.

There are several folks in Montana and Idaho who are trying to do that with wolves. They're trying to pass a bill in Congress that says wolves in those two States are completely recovered and are now de-listed (that is, they no longer require the protections in the ESA). If that passes, wolves in those two States are no longer on the ESA list. My point was that similar legislation is possible on the Columbia if Judge Redden tosses out the latest plan.