Court Orders New Biological Opinion on Columbia River Salmon

Judge James Redden gave NOAA Fisheries one year to complete a new biological opinion on operation of the federal Columbia River hydropower system.  While the biop is completed, the 2004 Biological Opinion will stay in effect.  The federal government had asked for no remand pending appeal or an open-ended remand or at least two years in which to develop the new biop.  The government hopes to coordinate any changes in the hydropower system with the recovery planning process addressing all aspects of salmon recovery -- and likely will appeal Redden's remand order.