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MARCH 2, 2001

In a guest editorial in The Seattle Times, two economists say salmon are important enough to the Northwest's economy not to risk losing any more just to keep rising power costs down.

The paper says conservation should be a major focus, not just generating more power to meet demands. But while power officials are considering rising water levels in rivers to help generate more power, the two say this will damage the economy in the long run.

Tribes in the state have treaty-reserved rights to salmon. Federal officials at the Bonneville Power Adminstration were told last month that increasing the flow of water to rivers could hurt spawning salmon.

Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber this week lobbied the Bush administration for $700 million for salmon recovery efforts in the entire region. In the days of a tight budget, his money request might have a tough chance of being approved.

Get the Story:
EDITORIAL: Northwest can balance electrons and salmon (The Seattle Times 3/2)
Oregon governor lobbies in D.C. for boost to salmon recovery (AP 3/2)