NOAA's Fisheries Service, the federal agency charged with protecting Northwest salmon listed under the Endangered Species Act, has released three biological opinions that provide comprehensive, far-reaching plans for the protected salmon species, according to the federal agency.
     A biological opinion, a requirement of the Endangered Species Act, sets forth benchmarks other federal agencies must meet to avoid undue harm to listed fish. All three of biological opinions will be in effect for at least 10 years, according to a NOAA announcement.
     Two of the opinions concern federal agencies' operations of eight hydropower dams in the Columbia River basin and almost two dozen other Northwest dam-related irrigation projects on the upper Snake River in Idaho.
     The third sets forth a plan for managing salmon harvests for Indian tribes in Washington, Idaho, and Oregon, and for those states themselves.
     "These biological opinions not only meet the law's requirement to protect fish, they also improve the prospects for recovery," said Bob Lohn, head of NOAA's Fisheries Service's Northwest region, based in Seattle.
     "In these opinions, we've taken a close look at all of the major factors - the hydro system, habitat, hatcheries, and harvest - and are making sure that they're all working toward healthy salmon runs," he said.
     The document includes:
     - A climate change section, taking climate shifts and their likely effect on salmon into consideration.
     - Biological opinion factors in the effects of hydro operations on killer whales and green sturgeon to ensure the species are not adversely affected as steps are taken to protect salmon.
     - Analysis supporting opinions based on best available science and validated by independent science reviews.
     More information on the biological opinions is available at www.nwr.noaa.gov/Salmon-Hydropower/Columbia-Snake-Basin/Final-BOs.cfm.