Columbia River Basin Fish and Wildlife Program Amendment Process

Consistent with the Northwest Power Act of 1980, the Council develops and periodically amends its fish and wildlife program for the Columbia River Basin to protect and enhance fish and wildlife affected by the development and operation of hydroelectric facilities, while assuring the Pacific Northwest an adequate, efficient, economical, and reliable power supply. The Act requires the Council to call for recommendations to amend the program at least every five years prior to the Council’s review of its regional electric power and conservation plan. 

In October 2020, the Council formally concluded the fish and wildlife amendment process with the adoption of the findings on recommendations and response to comments for Part I of the 2020 Addendum. The conclusion of this process resulted in the 2020 Addendum to the 2014 Fish and Wildlife Program.

Process/timeline

August 2020: Part I of the 2020 Addendum available

June 2020: Comments were received through June 22, and heard at public hearings and the June 16-17 Council meeting.

May 2020: Revised Draft Part I of the 2020 Addendum to the 2014 Columbia River Basin Fish and Wildlife Program, which addresses program goals, objectives, and measurements of progress, is available for public review and comment through June 22. The Council approved release of the revised draft for comment at its May meeting.

March 2020: The Council approved at the March Council meeting the findings on recommendations and responses to comments necessary to support and complete the Council’s adoption of Part II of the 2020 Addendum to the 2014 Fish and Wildlife Program.

January 2020:

• See Part II of the Program Amendment Addendum (Program Implementation)
• See meetings and materials for Part I of the Program Amendment Addendum

October 2019: See comments that were received through October 18.

July 2019: The Council invited review and comment on draft amendments to the Columbia River Basin Fish and Wildlife Program. The Council is proposing to amend the program this time through the use of an Addendum to the Council's existing 2014 Program. Comments were received through October 18, 2019.

The Council staff prepared a draft explanation as to how the Council used the recommendations and the comments on recommendations in developing the draft program Addendum. It is available here for informational purposes. The staff believes this document may be useful in helping you develop comments on the draft program Addendum. This is a staff draft document. The Council has not approved this document as an official, final Council explanation.

February 2019: The Council closed the formal comment period on the Columbia River Basin Fish and Wildlife Program recommendations on February 8. See recommendations and comments.

January 2019: The official comment period on the program amendment recommendations ended February 8, 2019. The Council considered whether to extend the comment period due to the partial shutdown of the federal government, but closing the official comment period on the recommendations enables the Council to begin drafting the amended program. However, the Council will continue to receive written and oral public comment on the recommendations as the amendment process continues and provide opportunities for public comment at its regularly scheduled meetings. The Council urges those wishing to submit comment on the recommendations but hindered by the government shutdown to do so as soon as possible to inform the development of the draft amended program.

May 2018: The Council issued a call for program amendment recommendations. The deadline for submissions was December 13, 2018.