Washington Gov. Gregoire, Oregon Gov. Kulongoski and federal officials discuss court decision on management of Columbia River system

For Immediate Release: May 26, 2005

OLYMPIA � May 26, 2005 � Gov. Christine Gregoire today met with Oregon Gov. Ted Kulongoski and federal officials to discuss a court ruling that the Bush administration�s plan for balancing salmon against hydroelectric dams in the Columbia River Basin violates the Endangered Species Act.

The two governors, representatives from Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer�s office and other officials were touring the Grand Coulee Dam in Central Washington when the decision was announced by U.S. District Judge James Redden in Portland. They took the opportunity to immediately discuss the ruling. Others in today�s discussion were from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Bonneville Power Administration, the Bureau of Reclamation and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries. Idaho Gov. Dirk Kempthorne was out of the country and was not at Grand Coulee.

�We have been making some progress in our discussions and see this an opportunity to recommit ourselves to craft a solution on how to manage the hydroelectric system,� Gregoire said. �It�s important that the Columbia River system be managed in a way that protects both fish and the economy of Washington and the Pacific Northwest.�

Gregoire said tribes and interested parties would be consulted on any solutions that are proposed.

The governor said she was not surprised by today�s court decision. �We have been working this issue for some time,� she said. �I believe the judge did the right thing.�

Washington filed an amicus brief in March supporting the lawsuit challenging the validity of the federal government�s Biological Opinion for the management of the Columbia River federal power system. The state took the action because of concerns that the federal plan would jeopardize the survival of 12 threatened and endangered runs of salmon.

Environmental groups, Indian tribes and fishermen filed the lawsuit, and Oregon joined the plaintiffs as a third party.