[3] BPA'S 2007 Fish Bill Adds Up To $716 Million

BPA spent more than $700 million on fish and wildlife last year, according to a report compiled by the Northwest Power and Conservation Council for Congress that has been released for public comment.

About $400 million of last year's costs was due to a combination of forgone hydro revenues from operations for fish ($283 million) and power purchases ($121 million) to make up for those operations.

Since 1978, BPA has spent $9.4 billion on fish and wildlife, with more than $3 billion going for power purchases to meet load requirements, and another $2 billion in forgone revenues.

In 2001 alone, the second-worst water year in BPA records, the agency was on the hook for $1.5 billion in forgone revenues and power purchases, a sum that accounted for half of BPA's F&W spending from 1978 to 2001. Power prices were sky-high that spring, with heavy-load Mid-Columbia hub prices averaging $262/MWh.

Since 1978, BPA has spent almost $4 billion on the direct F&W program and capital expenditures, along with another $1.5 billion in fixed expenses for bonds issued to pay for capital investments in fish-passage improvements at dams.

Another $923 million was paid to the U.S. Treasury since 1978 for the power-generation share of other federal agency expenditures to mitigate power impacts on Columbia Basin fish and wildlife.

Over the years, state fisheries agencies have captured a good share of the direct program funding for fish-enhancement projects and for other recovery actions. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has raked in more than $100 million since 1978, about $20 million in just the last two years.

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife has received about $200 million in ratepayer money and $20 million in the past couple of years.

The Idaho Department of Fish and Game has captured about $136 million overall, and about $21 million over the past two years, while Montana fish agencies have landed more than $44 million over the years, but only about $3 million in 2006 and 2007.

Major tribes in the basin have also been beneficiaries of major funding decisions. The Yakamas have received about $140 million since 1978 and more than $24 million in the past two years.

The Nez Perce received about $147 million over the years, and about $24 million over the past couple of years.

The Umatilla tribes got $66 million in direct F&W funds, which included about $12 million over the past two years.

The Warm Springs tribes captured about $40 million over the years to pay for projects, and about $8 million in the past two years, while the Colville tribes have been recipients of about $56 million in BPA's direct F&W funding since 1978, including about $15 million in the past two years.

BPA's direct program costs are expected to almost double with the signing of the recent fish and wildlife accords with some tribes and states that trade more F&W spending for support of the new hydro BiOp. -B. R.

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NW Fishletter is produced by Energy NewsData.
Publisher: Cyrus Noë, Editor: Bill Rudolph
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