Bush's salmon recovery plan: "Catch fewer fish. Heh! Heh-heh!"

[IDemo]

Salmon decision enrages opponents

Two new groups to take over crucial counting of fish

Jeff Barnard
The Associated Press
Edition Date: 01-27-2006

PORTLAND — The Bonneville Power Administration said Thursday that two new organizations will take responsibility for counting salmon passing over dams in the Columbia Basin, drawing outrage from Indian tribes, fishermen and conservationists unhappy that the Fish Passage Center was sacked.

The move followed action by Sen. Larry Craig, R-Idaho, who was critical of a Fish Passage Center report cited by a federal judge in ordering more water spilled over federal hydroelectric dams to help salmon.

Craig inserted language in an appropriations bill directing BPA to find someone new to count salmon. Spilling water over the dams leaves less to go through turbines to generate electricity.

"BPA strongly supports the principle of clear separation between data collection and management, scientific analysis and coordination of policy," said Greg Delwiche, BPA's vice president for environment, fish and wildlife. He said the new organizations "will enhance the independence and neutrality of the scientific analysis in both fact and appearance."

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