For our user agree- ment, click here . And some of the questions are about regulatory process and political will, whether the state is prepared to act strongly to protect salmon in the Willamette River, even if it costs jobs. The silt from dredging is believed to harm young fish. The reprieve for Ross Island may be justified. Only recently have state wildlife biologists determined that salmon and steelhead smolts use the Ross Island lagoon.
More study probably is necessary to determine whether dredging in the lagoon harms fish.
In the meantime, Ross Island has agreed to mine only in the deeper areas of the island's lagoon during the six months young salmon are migrating. While biologists examine the scientific issues, Oregonians ought to look closely at the political questions raised by the unusual reprieve given to Ross Island. Nobody ought to be entirely comfortable with the way this decision was made. The state Department of Fish and Wildlife was prepared to recommend a six-month dredging ban at Ross Island, the same restrictions that apply to nearly all other dredging operations on the river. However, the company complained to Gov. John Kitzhaber's office.