Fish Forecast: 'Not Very Good'
- March 15, 2017
- John Harrison
2017 is predicted to be another poor year for Columbia River salmon and steelhead runs, but they've been worse in the past.
Articles by John Harrison
Water for Fish, Farms, and People
- March 14, 2017
- John Harrison
Water transactions are helping fish and boosting local economies across the West, and the Columbia River Basin provides an example of success.
Fish Tools
- March 13, 2017
- John Harrison
The Council and its partners are developing online information tools to help show progress toward recovery goals for fish in the Columbia River Basin.
Sea Lion Fish Feast
- March 01, 2017
- John Harrison
The number of salmon and steelhead consumed by sea lions at Bonneville Dam last year, more than 9,500 fish, was the second-largest since observations and monitoring began in 2002, according to a report by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. During their annual spring foray into the Columbia River, sea lions also killed lamprey and sturgeon.
The Economic Impact of Energy Efficiency Standards
- February 28, 2017
- John Harrison
In 2014, state and federal energy-efficiency codes for appliances, lights, motors, and other devices reduced electricity consumption by more than 2,500 average megawatts. That’s more than twice the annual electricity demand of the city of Seattle, energy consultant Tom Eckman
Oregon and Idaho members will lead Power Council in 2017
- February 23, 2017
- John Harrison
The Northwest Power and Conservation Council this month elected Oregon and Idaho members to lead the four-state energy and fish and wildlife planning agency in 2017.
Lamprey Rescue
- February 16, 2017
- John Harrison
A 400-million-year-old species, Pacific lamprey, has cultural and environmental significance in the Columbia River Basin, where upriver populations have declined over time, in some rivers to zero. But research, artificial propagation, and dam-passage improvements for adult lamprey show promise of rebuilding the species.
Unveiling the Estuary
- February 15, 2017
- John Harrison
Better understanding of how juvenile salmon use the Columbia River estuary as they journey to the Pacific Ocean, and what factors influence their survival once they arrive, could inform management decisions about how fish are raised in fresh water hatcheries and when they are released.
Mussel Strategy
- January 23, 2017
- John Harrison
Non-native, invasive freshwater mussels pose "a grave threat to the waters and economic resources" of the state, Governor Steve Bullock said last fall, and now the state has a plan to respond quickly if and when the invaders take hold.
A Plan for Scientific Research
- January 19, 2017
- John Harrison
Scientific research is critical to improve knowledge and help guide decision-making about projects that implement the Council's fish and wildlife program. For the first time since 2006 the Council is updating the plan that guides research funded through the program.