The Challenge of Managing the Columbia River Basin for Energy and Fish

The Columbia River Basin (Basin) is located in the Pacific Northwest, United States. The 370 hydroelectric dams in the Basin provide the Northwest with many services including hydropower generation, flood control, agricultural irrigation, and navigation. The basin also provides habitat for a variety of species. Balancing the energy demands with the needs of fish and wildlife, especially anadromous salmonids, is a daunting task. Through the implementation of the Pacific Northwest Electric Power Planning and Conservation Act (Power Act) the Northwest Power and Conservation Council in collaboration with state, federal, tribal, and non-governmental partners attempts to address the needs of fish and wildlife with that of hydropower generation. The implementation is challenging as the Basin’s ecosystem is stressed by societal demands and the resulting environmental impacts. We will discuss ongoing challenge of meeting the demands for hydropower generation and of the basin’s fish species