August 4, 2024

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Columbia Basin Bulletin
August 04, 2024

Biden Administration Announces $240 Million For Pacific Northwest Tribal Hatcheries Producing Salmon, Steelhead

The Departments of Commerce and Interior, July 25 announced $240 million in funding to support Tribal hatcheries that produce Pacific salmon and steelhead.

Researchers Enhance Database That Help Wildfire Managers Predict When, Where Wildfires May Occur

A newly enhanced database is expected to help wildfire managers and scientists better predict where and when wildfires may occur by incorporating hundreds of additional factors that impact the ignition and spread of fire.

Big Sockeye Return To Columbia River, Some Endangered Snake River Sockeye Trapped At Lower Granite To Avoid Warming Waters

Warm water in the upper Salmon River is leading biologists to trap the sockeye at Lower Granite Dam and haul them to the Eagle Hatchery near Boise, ID.

Court Halts Million-Acre Oil Lease Sale In Alaska’s Cook Inlet Due To Possible Impacts To Beluga Whales, Orders Further Environmental Review

Environmental groups celebrated a legal victory last week when a federal district court judge overturned an offshore oil and gas lease sale in Alaska’s Cook Inlet, saying the federal government violated the law when holding the sale.

Council Gets Rundown On Over 130 Habitat Projects Aiming At Improving Lot Of Struggling Willamette River Spring Chinook, Winter Steelhead

Upper Willamette River spring Chinook salmon and winter steelhead are benefitting from long-running habitat projects downstream of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ 13 Willamette Project dams, according to a recent presentation at the Northwest Power and Conservation Council.

Washington Approves Changes To Cougar Hunting Rules, Rejects Staff Recommendation To Downgrade Wolf Protection Status

The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission last week voted 8-1 to approve amended cougar hunting rules. Spurred by a petition from wildlife conservation organizations, the new rules aim to avoid cougar overexploitation.

Fish Biologists Look At Reconnecting Migratory Bull Trout Below Hells Canyon With Resident Populations Upstream

Biologists in Idaho are hoping that the large migratory bull trout that overwinter in the Snake River downstream of Idaho Power Company’s Hells Canyon Dams can in the next few years be trapped and moved upstream.

Nez Perce Tribe Begins Construction Of Kelt Reconditioning Facility, Aims To Improve Wild Snake River Steelhead Survival

Snake River wild steelhead populations have declined significantly over the past several years, and this facility will be the first hatchery project in the basin aimed specifically at recovering this threatened run.

WDOE Taking Comment On Proposed, First-Of-Its-Kind Pilot Project In Port Angeles To Pull Carbon Pollution Out Of The Air

A pilot project proposed in Port Angeles, Washington is designed to test whether seawater can be used to soak up more carbon dioxide from the air.  It is a first-of-its-kind pilot project that has the potential to remove carbon dioxide from marine waters.