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HJM027....................................................by WAYS AND MEANS
SALMON SURVIVAL EVALUATIONS - Stating findings of the Legislature and
requesting that the United States government conduct salmon survival
evaluations in the 2004 spill year, the goal of which should be to
determine if it is possible to achieve the same or greater levels of
survival and biological benefit to migrating fish as is currently achieved
while reducing the amount of water spilled, thus decreasing the adverse
impacts on the region's power supply.
03/18 House intro - 1st rdg - to printing
03/19 Rpt prt - to 2nd rdg
Rls susp - ADOPTED - voice vote
Floor Sponsor - Cuddy
Title apvd - to Senate
03/19 Senate intro - 1st rdg - to Res/Env
03/20 Rpt out - rec d/p - to 10th Ord
Rls susp - ADOPTED - voice vote
Floor Sponsor - Brandt
Title apvd - to House
03/22 To enrol - Rpt enrol - Sp signed - Pres signed
To Secretary of State
]]]] LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF IDAHO ]]]]
Fifty-seventh Legislature Second Regular Session - 2004
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
HOUSE JOINT MEMORIAL NO. 27
BY WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE
1 A JOINT MEMORIAL
2 TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, TO THE SECRETARY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF
3 THE INTERIOR, TO THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED
4 STATES IN CONGRESS ASSEMBLED, AND TO THE CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION REPRE-
5 SENTING THE STATE OF IDAHO IN THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES.
6 We, your Memorialists, the House of Representatives and the Senate of the
7 State of Idaho assembled in the Second Regular Session of the Fifty-seventh
8 Idaho Legislature, do hereby respectfully represent that:
9 WHEREAS, the majority of energy required by the Pacific Northwest is pro-
10 duced by hydropower; and
11 WHEREAS, spill for fish should be managed according to the most biologi-
12 cally effective level at each hydro project; and
13 WHEREAS, spilling to the maximum gas supersaturation levels of one hundred
14 twenty percent may be increasing mortality at some dams when compared to what
15 would occur at lesser volumes of spill; and
16 WHEREAS, the difference in survival between spillway passage and other
17 passage methods may in some instances be minimal; and
18 WHEREAS, the maximum level of fish survival at each project may be differ-
19 ent from and not necessarily correlated with the most spill; and
20 WHEREAS, spill may have negative effects on returning adults; and
21 WHEREAS, there are few fish in the river system in July and August because
22 the majority of smolts are barged; and
23 WHEREAS, the 2000 Biological Opinion provides adequate latitude for spill
24 adjustments including spill reductions; and
25 WHEREAS, spillway passage for migrating salmon can also be the passage
26 method most costly to the regional power system, especially in years of low
27 water or high market prices for energy; and
28 WHEREAS, the Bonneville Power Administration has estimated the cost of
29 spill in the months of July and August by the Federal Columbia Power System to
30 be approximately 77 million dollars; and
31 WHEREAS, the Northwest Power and Conservation Council has called on the
32 federal government to conduct an evaluation of the biological effectiveness
33 and costs of spillway passage at each project.
34 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the members of the Second Regular Ses-
35 sion of the Fifty-seventh Idaho Legislature, the House of Representatives and
36 the Senate concurring therein, that we request the United States government to
37 conduct salmon survival evaluations in the 2004 spill year, the goal of which
38 should be to determine if it is possible to achieve the same or greater levels
39 of survival and biological benefit to migrating fish as is currently achieved
40 while reducing the amount of water spilled, thus decreasing the adverse
41 impacts on the region's power supply.
42 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Chief Clerk of the House of Representa-
43 tives be, and she is hereby authorized and directed to forward a copy of this
44 Memorial to the President of the United States, to the Secretary of the United
2
1 States Department of Interior, to the President of the Senate and the Speaker
2 of the House of Representatives of Congress, and the congressional delegation
3 representing the State of Idaho in the Congress of the United States.
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
RS 14265
The purpose of this legislation is to support the Power and
Conservation Council in their efforts to attain a better method
of water management in the Columbia River Drainage system.
Better management of water will provide for additional power
generation while continuing to provide for reasonable fish
passage that does not require excessive water use from the upper
Columbia River drainage.
FISCAL IMPACT
No fiscal impact.
Contact
Name: Rep. Stevenson, Rep. Cuddy
Phone: (208) 332-1000
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE/FISCAL NOTE HJM 027