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Steps to Saving Salmon

(and Other Fish and Wildlife)

[This brochure was created in 1999 to explain the Council's project selection processes.]

Selecting Salmon and Other

Fish and Wildlife Projects Is No Simple Task

How Government Agencies Save Species and Money

You may not be aware of it, but in the Pacific Northwest, there's a cooperative, coordinated, comprehensive

and accountable process for deciding what gets done to save salmon and other fish and wildlife.

Through the Northwest Power Planning Council (an agency of the four Northwest states), the Columbia Basin

Fish and Wildlife Authority (an agency of the region's state, tribal and federal fish and wildlife managers), and

the Bonneville Power Administration, the Northwest reviews, selects and implements hundreds of publicly

funded projects designed to protect and restore fish and wildlife populations affected by the development of

federal dams on the Columbia and Snake Rivers.

Sorting through and carrying out these recovery efforts is a difficult and complex task because there's

unlimited work that could be done but limited dollars to do it with. Making sure the money we spend truly

helps fish and wildlife is the top concern.

This brochure is designed to explain ? step by step ? how it's done. On the back, you'll find information about

how to learn more about each step. here's a little background information to get you started?

Background

Salmon and other fish and wildlife are an important part of the Northwest's heritage. Everyone wants to see

healthy populations of fish and wildlife today and for future generations. In addition, the United States has

treaties with Indian tribes that reserved the tribes? rights to fish in the river. The United States and Canada also

have a treaty that commits us to rebuild Columbia River salmon runs. To live up to our commitments to

Canada and the region's original residents, we have to find a way save the species that have been affected by

dams and other development.

that's where the Bonneville Power Administration comes in. Bonneville is a federal agency that markets the

electricity produced from the federal dams in the Columbia River Basin. A portion of the money Bonneville

earns from selling electricity is dedicated to projects designed to protect and enhance salmon and other fish
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and wildlife populations.

Under a 1995 agreement among the federal government, the region's tribes and Bonneville, the current fish and

wildlife budget allocates approximately $127 million annually to these projects (about 3 percent of

Bonneville's average annual revenues of approximately $3 billion).

Because Bonneville is a federal agency, the project money must be allocated in a public process. How the

money is used will help determine the future of the Northwest's salmon and other fish and wildlife, and

potentially, the size of your electricity bill. So, take a few minutes to review the decision-making process.

After all, it's your fish and wildlife, your money and your river.

Step

Developing a Fish and Wildlife Plan

The Power Planning Council and the Columbia Basin Fish and Wildlife Program

Before you can pick specific projects for fish and wildlife, you need a plan. The Northwest Power Planning

Council is the agency that creates the plan. The Council works with tribal, federal, state, regional and local

governments; as well as industry, environmental groups and interested citizens to define the region's overall

goals and develop a framework for steps the region could take to create a river basin that supports both

humans and fish and wildlife.

The most recent plan was adopted in December 1994, after a lengthy series of consultations with experts, and

a whole series of public meetings, hearings and deliberations. All the specific projects paid for with money

from the Bonneville Power Administration must be consistent with the plan. To ensure that the plan is based

on the most up-to-date information, it is reviewed at least once every five years. The Council currently is

considering ways to update the 1994 plan.

Once the goals and regional framework are in place, the region's fish and wildlife managers and the public

suggest measures to help the region meet its fish and wildlife goals. How the region acts on the measures is

explained in the steps below.

Step

Expert Advice From the Columbia Basin

Fish and Wildlife Authority

Fish and wildlife managers and the public propose projects

The region's fish and wildlife managers, through the Columbia Basin Fish and Wildlife Authority, are

responsible for developing criteria for reviewing and prioritizing specific projects designed to meet the

requirements of the region's fish and wildlife plan. Once the managers? criteria are developed, they are

reviewed and approved by the Power Planning Council. Then, Bonneville solicits project proposals from fish
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and wildlife agencies, universities, local governments and others. CBFWA, the Council, Bonneville, Trout

Unlimited and the Public Power Council also sponsor a public review of proposed projects. The review gives

the public a chance to hear what projects are being proposed and helps refine the process of prioritizing our

fish and wildlife efforts.

During the 1996 prioritization effort, more than 400 proposals totaling some $270 million were submitted for

possible funding. The managers had $127 million to work with. Deciding which projects to recommend for

funding is a complex, difficult task requiring hundreds of hours of staff time. Once the managers make the

tough choices regarding the highest priority projects, they forward their recommendations to the Power

Planning Council and to a group of independent scientists called the Independent Scientific Review Panel for

additional review.

Step

Scientific Scrutiny

Independent Scientific Review Ensures Projects Are Sound

Based on a recent amendment to the Northwest Power Act, the Northwest Power Planning Council uses an 11-

member panel of independent scientists to review the fish and wildlife recovery projects recommended by the

Columbia Basin Fish and Wildlife Authority.

All 11 scientists were nominated for the panel by the National Academy of Sciences. The panel will ensure

that the Council obtains sound, objective scientific input into its decisions about fish and wildlife recovery

measures in the Columbia River Basin and that public funds are used for only the most credible projects.

The Independent Scientific Review Panel reviews the projects to ensure they are: Consistent with the Council's

fish and wildlife program; Based on sound science principles; Benefit fish and wildlife; Have clearly defined

objectives and outcomes with provisions for monitoring and evaluating results.

Step
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Public Review

Ensuring the Public Has a Voice in Fish and Wildlife Projects

Following the scientific review, the Council analyzes the recommended projects, conducts public consultations

and invites public comments on the projects themselves and on the scientific review. Public review and

comment is an important element of the project selection process. During 1996, for example, the Council

received comments from parties as diverse as the Public Power Council, the Columbia River Alliance, Oregon

Trout and Bonneville. The Council will accept public comments for at least 30 days after receiving the

managers? recommendations. This is a very important step that helps ensure project effectiveness.

The Council summarizes public comments for the fish and wildlife managers who will have about a month to

review the comments and make any changes. The managers may change their recommended project priorities

in response.

Step Calculating Cost

Effectiveness

Getting the Most for the Public's Money

The Northwest Power Planning Council must determine whether the proposed projects are cost-effective. The

Council conducts its own analysis, and also established an Independent Economic Analysis Board to provide

advice on and improve cost analysis of fish and wildlife recovery measures. The panel's advice helps the

Council conduct annual cost-effectiveness reviews of the proposed projects.

The Economics Board members have substantial experience in the areas of: Natural resource economics and

policy; Irrigation and agricultural economics; Water use and policy; River transportation economics; Fishery

economics and policy, local-area economic impact assessment; Non-market valuation of natural resources;

Electricity system configuration and economics; and; U.S. Army Corps of Engineers project evaluation.

Combined with the scientific review, the cost-effectiveness review helps ensure that public dollars are spent

wisely and that the expenditures produce positive biological results and that successful projects are continued

and unsuccessful projects are improved or concluded.

Step
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Approving the Projects

After Council Approval, Bonneville Writes Contracts for Work

When the Council is satisfied that the projects are consistent with the goals and objectives of the fish and

wildlife program, are based on sound science principles, employ cost-effective measures are consistent with

ocean conditions, and have been thoroughly reviewed by the public, it recommends that Bonneville fund them.

It is important to note that although the Council makes recommendations to Bonneville on which projects to

fund, Bonneville has sole authority to select project contractors, define the scope of work and to negotiate

budgets and contract terms. Bonneville employs a staff of contract officers and project managers to write,

oversee and manage individual projects recommended by the Council.

Project Oversight

Ongoing Project Reviews Ensure Accountability

Although Bonneville has sole authority to oversee the contracting and management of individual projects, the

Council has an interest in monitoring the implementation of its fish and wildlife plan. For this reason, the

Council periodically selects projects for additional scrutiny.

What do all of these processes, checks and re-checks really do? They make sure that the real beneficiaries of

our dollars are the fish and wildlife that need help. In fact, just last year the Council used the process to save

hundreds of thousands of dollars on a few projects and to re-direct those savings to other worthwhile efforts.

it's a matter of making sure we get the most and best results out of a limited amount of money. So the next

time you read about a new project for fish and wildlife in the Columbia Basin, you can feel comfortable that

the project is a good value for us and for the environment.

Fish and Wildlife Experts Lead Project Process

The Columbia Basin Fish and Wildlife Authority

The Authority's participating members are the:

-National Marine Fisheries Service

-U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

-Idaho Department of Fish and Game

-Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks

-Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife

-Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife

-Burns-Paiute Tribe

-Coeur D?Alene Tribe

-Colville Confederated Tribes
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-Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes

-Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation

-Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation

-Kalispel Tribe of Indians

-Kootenai Tribe

-Nez Perce Tribe

-Shoshone-Bannock Tribes

-Shoshone-Paiute Tribes

-Spokane Tribe

-Yakama Indian Nation

To get more information about the Authority:

Call: 503-326-7031

Write: 2501 S.W. First Avenue, Suite 200, Portland, Oregon 97201.

Fax: 503-326-7033

E-Mail: 

www.cbfwa.org

Giving the Public a Voice in Saving Salmon and Other Species

Provide Your Opinion at a Meeting Near You

The Federal Role in Funding Species Recovery

The Bonneville Power Administration

If you have questions about Bonneville's role in the fish and wildlife project selection, contracting and

management process, you can:

Call: 503-230-5215

Write: Fish & Wildlife Projects, 905 NE 11th ? EWP, Portland 97232

E-Mail: fwprojects@bpa.gov

WWW: http://www.bpa.gov (click on "corporate" then on "fish and wildlife")

In addition, Bonneville keeps a complete list of current and past project contractors, project costs and other

information.

Sign Up For More Information

If you would like to receive occasional updates about the fish and wildlife project selection process, fill out this

form and return it by mail to the Power Planning Council. Write to us at 851 S.W. Sixth Ave., Suite 1100,

Portland, OR, 97204, attention Public Affairs Division. We'll add your name to our projects mailing list. Or,

you can send the form to us by fax at 503-795-3370, or send the information requested on the form via e-mail.

To do so, send a message to .

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