But as usual, the summary was misleading. The unspoken implication is that transportation did not increase survival in half the experiments. The truth is that not enough fish returned in half the experiments to get a statistically-significant result. The Oregonian's Declaration of Independence from science is echoed throughout the Northwest. Environmental groups are distributing flyers all the time that ask citizens to write to their politicians and tell them that barging doesn't work.
Nobody bothers to look at the facts.
It has not succeeded in recovering the salmon by itself, but should not be expected to. The state and tribal forces have also continued their attacks on the transportation system through their increased involvement in federal salmon spending. The battle did not end until November 22nd, when NMFS finally terminated the debate and directed the Corps to award the contract less than a week later. Doubtless the delays increased costs. He has convinced the entire Idaho Congressional Delegation and other Idaho interests to sign off on a plan to restrict transportation operations so as to leave two-thirds of the juvenile salmon leaving Idaho in the river.