Salmon Panel Rebuffs State

Idaho interests suffered a setback when federal officials rebuffed a key provision of the state’s salmon policy that promised to keep Dworshak Reservoir higher.

The federal executive committee on Monday rejected a plea for a written commitment that water levels in Dworshak Reservoir on the Clearwater River be maintained much higher than in past years.

The committee met in Portland on Monday to begin fleshing out this year’s strategy for Snake River salmon recovery.

The committee decided against outlining any definite plan for Dworshak until June. Orofino-area merchants were enraged the last two summers when drawdowns for the salmon dropped the reservoir level out of reach to boaters.

Gov. Phil Batt’s compromise plan for the salmon, billed as a one-year policy, included keeping Dworshak Reservoir full from June to Labor Day and barging no more than half the young salmon and steelhead migrating downstream.

The federal panel refused to commit to any specific reservoir level or any barging ratio.

Salmon advocates and biologists have vigorously argued that barging is a proven failure since the runs have done nothing but decline in the two decades barging has been employed.