Posted by: Idaho Mike
Fish Passage Center - 08/05/05 11:02 PM
A while back I wrote a letter to Senator Cantwell regarding the bill that would eliminate the Fish Passage Center. I received a response last week. I thought I would share it.
Thank you for contacting me regarding the Fish Passage Center and salmon recovery efforts on the Columbia and Snake Rivers . I appreciate hearing from you, and regret the delayed response.
The Portland-based Fish Passage Center , w ith a staff of 11 and an annual budget of $1.3 million, provides technical analyses of Columbia and Snake River salmon and steelhead runs for federal agencies, states governments, and Indian tribes. Funded through the Bonneville Power Administration, the Center helps mitigate the impacts of Snake and Columbia hydroelectric projects by compiling data on fish populations and river conditions.
As you may know, on June 14, 2005, Senator Larry Craig included language in the Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee report on the Energy and Water Appropriations bill (H.R. 2419) that advises against funding the Fish Passage Center for Fiscal Year 2006. While this language was not included in the actual bill, the report language could still affect the Fish Passage Center .
I am concerned how any potential changes to ongoing fish data collection efforts and analyses may harm our region's efforts to restore self-sustaining, harvestable populations of wild Pacific Salmon. Please be assured that I will keep your comments in mind throughout the appropriations process as I continue working to promote the health of Pacific Northwest salmon.
You may also be aware that on June 10, 2005, a federal district judge ordered government officials to increase the volume of water spilled through four dams on the Snake River and McNary Dam on the Columbia . Thus far, no legislation has been introduced that would affect this ruling. Please be assured that I will continue to monitor the situation, and will keep your comments in mind should I have the opportunity to consider legislation pertaining to this issue.
The importance of salmon to the Pacific Northwest -economically, recreationally, and culturally-is enormous, and I believe we must continue moving toward our overall goal of salmon recovery. Salmon should be recovered to levels that will once again support sustainable tribal, recreational, and commercial fishing. As the Ranking Member of the Senate Commerce Committee's Fisheries and Coast Guard Subcommittee, which has oversight of the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), and a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resource Committee, I will continue fighting to keep the salmon runs healthy, and will work to ensure the vitality of Washington 's wild salmon.
Thank you again for contacting me to share your thoughts on this matter. Finally, you may be interested in signing up for my weekly update for Washington state residents. Every Monday, I provide a brief outline about my work in the Senate and issues of importance to Washington state. If you are interested in subscribing to this update, please visit my website at http://cantwell.senate.gov . Please do not hesitate to contact me in the future if I can be of further assistance.
Sincerely,
Maria Cantwell
United States Senator
For future correspondence with my office, please visit my website at
http://cantwell.senate.gov/contact/index.html
Thank you for contacting me regarding the Fish Passage Center and salmon recovery efforts on the Columbia and Snake Rivers . I appreciate hearing from you, and regret the delayed response.
The Portland-based Fish Passage Center , w ith a staff of 11 and an annual budget of $1.3 million, provides technical analyses of Columbia and Snake River salmon and steelhead runs for federal agencies, states governments, and Indian tribes. Funded through the Bonneville Power Administration, the Center helps mitigate the impacts of Snake and Columbia hydroelectric projects by compiling data on fish populations and river conditions.
As you may know, on June 14, 2005, Senator Larry Craig included language in the Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee report on the Energy and Water Appropriations bill (H.R. 2419) that advises against funding the Fish Passage Center for Fiscal Year 2006. While this language was not included in the actual bill, the report language could still affect the Fish Passage Center .
I am concerned how any potential changes to ongoing fish data collection efforts and analyses may harm our region's efforts to restore self-sustaining, harvestable populations of wild Pacific Salmon. Please be assured that I will keep your comments in mind throughout the appropriations process as I continue working to promote the health of Pacific Northwest salmon.
You may also be aware that on June 10, 2005, a federal district judge ordered government officials to increase the volume of water spilled through four dams on the Snake River and McNary Dam on the Columbia . Thus far, no legislation has been introduced that would affect this ruling. Please be assured that I will continue to monitor the situation, and will keep your comments in mind should I have the opportunity to consider legislation pertaining to this issue.
The importance of salmon to the Pacific Northwest -economically, recreationally, and culturally-is enormous, and I believe we must continue moving toward our overall goal of salmon recovery. Salmon should be recovered to levels that will once again support sustainable tribal, recreational, and commercial fishing. As the Ranking Member of the Senate Commerce Committee's Fisheries and Coast Guard Subcommittee, which has oversight of the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), and a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resource Committee, I will continue fighting to keep the salmon runs healthy, and will work to ensure the vitality of Washington 's wild salmon.
Thank you again for contacting me to share your thoughts on this matter. Finally, you may be interested in signing up for my weekly update for Washington state residents. Every Monday, I provide a brief outline about my work in the Senate and issues of importance to Washington state. If you are interested in subscribing to this update, please visit my website at http://cantwell.senate.gov . Please do not hesitate to contact me in the future if I can be of further assistance.
Sincerely,
Maria Cantwell
United States Senator
For future correspondence with my office, please visit my website at
http://cantwell.senate.gov/contact/index.html