[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 104 (Wednesday, July 29, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Pages S9278-S9279]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 COLUMBIA RIVER FISH MITIGATION FUNDING

 Mr. SMITH of Oregon. Mr. President, I rise today to urge my 
colleagues who are conferees for the Fiscal Year 1999 Energy and Water 
Development Appropriations bill to retain the Senate-passed funding 
level for the Army Corps of Engineers' fish and wildlife mitigation 
measures on the Columbia River.
  The Senate approved $95 million for this program, which is vitally 
important to ongoing efforts to restore the

[[Page S9279]]

salmon and steelhead runs in the Columbia and Snake Rivers. 
Unfortunately, the House-passed bill slashed funding for the program to 
less than $8 million, enough for just two studies already underway in 
the Basin. The House Committee justifies this action by claiming that 
the funds spent to date have not recovered the salmon. Further, the 
House report states that since a major decision on the long-term 
operations of the federal dams on the system is supposed to occur in 
1999, we should just wait for that decision before we spend any more 
money on salmon recovery efforts in the basin.
  Given the life cycle of the salmon, waiting even a few years is 
simply not an option. Inaction on our part could push the salmon closer 
to extinction, which is unacceptable to those of us in the Pacific 
Northwest. We must also be realistic about the possibility that the 
1999 decision could be delayed. And unless a regional consensus is 
developed soon on how best to proceed, the decision--whenever it 
comes--is bound to be controversial and subject to challenges.
  Work on these fish mitigation measures, for which most of the funding 
will be reimbursed through power revenues, must continue while a long-
term solution is developed and implemented. The House approach to this 
issue fails to recognize that most of the funding is earmarked for 
important mitigation facilities at dams not being studied for permanent 
drawdown or by-pass, including McNary Dam and Bonneville Dam, as well 
as for important mitigation analysis studies. Information from these 
studies is needed if we are to make an informed decision on the long-
term operation of the system.
  Let me state emphatically that I am opposed to removal or drawdown of 
dams on the Columbia and Snake Rivers, which would destroy navigation 
on the river, affect irrigation, and eliminate up to 40 percent of 
Bonneville's generating capacity. There are those in the region who 
view this an ``either/or'' proposition: either the river is operated 
for salmon, or for economic activity. I say we can operate it for both.
  The Columbia River truly is the lifeblood of the Northwest. The Basin 
drains approximately 259,000 square miles, and encompasses two 
countries and seven states in its approximately 1,200 miles to the 
Pacific Ocean.
  In this century, we have harnessed the River for a variety of human 
activities and benefits, including navigation, water supply, power 
supply, and flood control. At the time many of the great public works 
projects in the Basin were constructed, fish and wildlife impacts were 
not fully considered. We are now struggling with the best way to 
mitigate these impacts while still meeting human needs. The 
consequences of these decisions could affect the livelihoods of most 
Northwest residents.
  I know that there are those who oppose funding certain activities on 
the River that they view to be of questionable value. I think our 
colleague, Senator Gorton, performed a great service for the region 
with his 1996 amendment to the Northwest Power Planning and 
Conservation Act to require that an independent, 11-member scientific 
panel review projects proposed to be funded by that portion of BPA's 
annual fish and wildlife budget that implements the Northwest Power 
Planning Council's fish and wildlife program. I would support the 
expanded use of scientific review panels for other fish and wildlife 
funding proposals within the Columbia River Basin.
  In closing, Mr. President, let me reiterate my fervent hope that 
Senate conferees on this bill will stand firm on the $95 million 
appropriation this body has already approved.

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