Fish Advocates Want Congressional Delegation To Fight Panel Decision

A federal committee made a unilateral decision to barge at least half of Idaho’s migrating juvenile salmon in opposition to the state’s wishes, say fish advocates who want Idaho’s congressional delegation to intervene.

The Clinton administration’s Salmon Executive Committee on Friday rejected a proposal from Idaho and the Columbia River tribes to barge no more than 42 percent when the smolts start migrating this month, opting instead for half or more.

Idaho also backed barging 54 percent of steelhead, concerned that if more chinook were barged, more of the oceangoing trout would tag along. More salmon in barges means 80 percent to 85 percent of the steelhead also would be transported.

“It’s a court of public opinion which must be elevated to the level of the White House,” said Mitch Sanchotena of Idaho Steelhead and Salmon Unlimited on Monday. “We are now asking Sens. Dirk Kempthorne and Larry Craig to step in, in hopes that Clinton will reverse this decision.”

He pointed out that Gov. Phil Batt’s proposal to keep as many fish in the river as possible was backed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, as well as the Indian tribes.

The Salmon Executive Committee is led by William Stelle, Northwest regional director for the National Marine Fisheries Service in Seattle.

“The federal family is not united behind the National Marine Fisheries Service decision,” said Justin Hayes of Idaho Rivers United. “The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service agreed with Idaho and urged NMFS to wean itself from barging. Our congressional delegation needs to intervene now and force the Clinton administration to adopt the governor’s plan.”

John Hoehne, chief of staff for U.S. Rep. Michael Crapo, said the Republican lawmaker is supportive of the spirit of Batt’s plan and had contacted the White House on Friday, although he has not received an answer.

Fish proponents had hoped the high flows would work like those experienced in the early 1980s, which resulted in good returns several years later.

“These fish evolved under these kinds of flows, not the iron coffins they put them in and transfer around the dam system,” Sanchotena said.