Nw Council’s New Focus: Freshwater Fish

After focusing mainly on ocean-going salmon, the Northwest Power Planning Council has turned its attention to helping wildlife and “resident” fish - those that spend their lives in fresh water.

Inland Northwest residents are being asked for their comments on proposals to help kokanee, bull trout and other species. One in a series of public hearings will be held from 3 to 7 p.m. today at Templin’s Resort in Post Falls.

More hearings will be held in Missoula, Portland and Seattle. The council plans to vote in July on a variety of projects, which would be paid for by the Bonneville Power Administration.

The deadline for written comments is June 15.

Information and copies of the proposals (document 95-4) are available by calling toll-free, 800-222-3355.

Many proposals before the council call for greater protection of habitat, said Ken Casavant, council member from Eastern Washington.

For example, one proposal calls for operating Grand Coulee Dam so that water takes at least 40 days to pass through Lake Roosevelt, the Columbia River reservoir behind the dam.

That’s important for fish growth, Casavant said, because water traveling through a reservoir takes away nutrients that fish need.

Another proposal calls for an aggressive program to install screens at water diversions to protect fish, especially kokanee and bull trout, from being carried into fields or water systems where they can die.