January 25, 2013

May 14

Near-record numbers of chinook salmon returned successfully to the Shasta River last fall despite daunting, drought-related environmental conditions and a large number of migrating fish that increased the threat of disease. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife counted more than 29,000 adult chinook salmon at video camera monitoring sites and fish weirs, making the return the largest on the Shasta River since 1962. “Irrigation districts and individual landowners stepped up and contributed water to reduce disease risks to returning salmon,” said Neil Manji, CDFW regional manager. “The increased flow helped cool the river water and avert disease and a potential salmon kill.” Read more from today's Columbia Basin Bulletin article Voluntary Actions To Increase Flows Help Shasta River See Largest Fall Chinook Return Since 1962.

The Oregon State Board of Agriculture has identified access to irrigation water as Oregon agriculture's number one priority over the next two years in its biennial report to the governor and state Legislature. Other priorities in the report's top-ten list include increasing agricultural sales and providing relief from the high costs of taxes, energy and labor. "This report should help the reader understand where Oregon is competitive and where it is not; what things are going well and where challenges exist; and what the Legislature, governor, congressional representatives and Oregon citizens can do to help," the board stated in a prepared comment. The 55-page report is now published and available online by going to the department's website: www.oregon.gov/ODA. Read more from Wednesday's Capital Press article Board of ag releases biennial report.

Today's Posts:

Klamath River Basin Issues:

Marcia Armstrong, Siskiyou County Supervisor: CA DFG/ CA Fish and Wildlife Jan 8, 2013

Marcia Armstrong, Siskiyou County Supervisor: County Power Federal ESA Jan 15, 2013

Marcia Armstrong, Siskiyou County Supervisor: North Coast Integrated Regional Water Management Plan (IRWM) Jan 22, 2013

Capital Press: Board of ag releases biennial report Jan 23, 2013

Herald and News Editorial: Best guard against surprise cost of area dikes: knowledge Jan 24, 2013

Pie N Politics: Siskiyou Under Siege 1-22-13 Jan 24, 2013

Two Rivers Tribune: VOICES: Opinion by Leonard Masten, Hoopa Tribal Chairman Jan 24, 2013

Two Rivers Tribune: VOICES: Opinion by Dean Brockbank, PacifiCorp Jan 24, 2013

Columbia Basin Bulletin: Voluntary Actions To Increase Flows Help Shasta River See Largest Fall Chinook Return Since 1962 Jan 25, 2013

Capital Press: Farm lobby sees 2013 Legislature as mixed bag Jan 25, 2013