El Niño conditions are returning to the equatorial Pacific and waters are expected to continue warming for some months to come, NOAA scientists announced last week. ...more

The number of dams salmon smolts must pass on their migration to the sea has little impact on their long-term survival, according to new research published last week in the peer-reviewed Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Science. ...more

With another excellent sockeye run entering the Columbia River, most are heading for the upper Columbia and beyond--to southeastern British Columbia's Lake Osoyoos. ...more

BiOp Judge James Redden granted the Obama administration another 45 days last week to study the latest hydro BiOp, after Justice Department attorneys requested extending a June 30 deadline. ...more

Columbia Basin harvest managers took a fresh look at ongoing salmon runs in the Columbia River and decided the summer run will not meet their preseason expectations of 71,000 fish (to river mouth). ...more

Parties in negotiations over the future of PacifiCorp's Klamath River hydroelectric project have targeted Sept. 1 as the new date for a final agreement. The previous target, announced as part of an Agreement in Principle last November, was June 30. ...more

Delays in securing permits prompted PacifiCorp in May to notify FERC it has again pushed the date to commence removal of the 14 MW Condit project back another year. Progress was made this month when the state of Washington released findings that are expected to accelerate issuance of a water quality certification, but the plan still faces local opposition among its host counties. ...more