Implementation of the
FCRPS Biological Opinions

2003/2003-2007 Implementation Plan
(updated December 5, 2002)

2001 Progress Report
(posted May 15, 2002)

2002 1-Year Implementation Plan
(posted November 15, 2001)

Draft Endangered Species Act Implementation Plan (2002-2006)
(posted July 31, 2001)

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) Biological Opinions (BO) on the Federal Columbia River Power System (FCRPS) were released in December 2000. The Biological Opinions call for the three Action Agencies (the Bonneville Power Administration, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the Bureau of Reclamation) to develop a 5-year plan, with a more detailed annual component, for planning and implementing the actions to achieve the hydrosystem and offsite mitigation (covering habitat, hatcheries and harvest) performance standards. For your reference, the actions listed in the NMFS Biological Opinion are summarized in the Appendix F Action Table (PDF, 22 pages, 74 kb, posted on the NMFS web site on 12/21/00).

The Draft Endangered Species Act Implementation Plan (2002-2006) (posted on July 31, 2001) is a blueprint that organizes collective fish recovery actions by the Action Agencies for both the NMFS and FWS Biological Opinions. The Plan looks at the full life cycle of the fish - also known as "gravel to gravel" management or an "All-H" approach (Hydro System, Habitat, Hatcheries, and Harvest). However, it describes only commitments connected to the FCRPS, not the obligations of other Federal agencies, states, or private parties.

The 5-Year Plan describes the Action Agencies' Goals; the Performance Standards to gauge results over time; Strategies and Priorities for each H; detailed Five-Year Action Tables for each H (2002-2006); the Research, Monitoring, and Evaluation Plan (RM&E;); and the expectations for Regional Coordination. The Plan will be dynamic, changing over time as information and experience advance. Each year, a Five-Year Plan, an Annual (1-Year Implementation) Plan, and a progress report will be issued. Each year, the Plan will be further refined as results are reported. Future updates to the Five-Year Plan will reflect new information, including information from the recovery planning process.

The 2002 1-Year Implementation Plan (posted on November 15, 2001) was provided to States and Tribes and formally submitted to NMFS and FWS on November 13, 2001. Although the formal comment period on the 2002-2006 5-Year Plan ended September 28, 2001, the Action Agencies continue to discuss policy-level implementation issues with States, Tribes, and Columbia River stakeholders throughout the region. As these discussions progress, the Action Agencies expect to make appropriate changes to these and subsequent plans.

The Action Agencies recognize that effective and timely implementation of this Plan will require help, advice, and support from others throughout the Pacific Northwest. In preparing the Plan, the Action Agencies will work, as is appropriate, with existing regional processes and forums; such as the Regional Forum, Columbia Basin Fish and Wildlife Authority (CBFWA), and the NWPPC. The Action Agencies look forward to working with the governments and people of the region to upgrade the hydropower system, to protect and enhance fish habitat, to reform hatcheries, and to rebuild harvestable fish runs.

The first annual Implementation Progress Report was released on May 15, 2002, documenting fish recovery measures taken in the Columbia River Basin in fiscal year 2001. The measures to benefit endangered salmon, steelhead, bull trout, and sturgeon were implemented based on recommendations of the National Marine Fisheries Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under the Endangered Species Act. The actions, which are part of an organized, scientifically based plan to aid endangered fish populations, represent the beginning of a 10-year commitment to achieve biological objectives and performance standards for the Federal Columbia River Power System. The federal report was released by the so-called Action Agencies which include the Bonneville Power Administration, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.

Comment / Questions

For more information about this process, please contact Katherine Cheney of BPA (503-230-3473) for the hydrosystem components of the implementation plan, or Kathy Fisher of BPA (503-230-4375) for the off-site mitigation components, and they will direct your inquiries to the appropriate contacts within the agencies.

Web page updated on May 20, 2002