PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — The Obama administration is taking the advice of a panel of scientists on the best way to get young salmon through the three dams on the lower Snake River in Eastern Washington as they make their spring migration to the ocean.
A brief filed in U.S. District Court in Portland on Monday says they will spread the risk by carry half in barges and spilling half over the dams by releasing extra water.
NOAA Fisheries Service had asked Judge James Redden to put all the young fish in barges, saying in a low water year like this one, that would be best for fish.
The judge controls dam operations since finding the government’s last plan for protecting Columbia Basin salmon violated the Endangered Species Act.
