Idaho Environmental Forum #169

The Obama Administration's New Take
on Salmon and Federal Hydropower:

Real Progress or More of the Same?

Monday, October 26,2009

The lunch buffet begins at 11:30 AM.

The program runs from noon to about 1:15 PM.

This program will meet at the Crystal Ballroom in the Hoff Building,
802 W. Bannock Street in downtown Boise.

THE SPEAKERS

Norm Semanko, Executive Director & General Counsel, Idaho Water Users Association, Inc.

Bert Bowler, Snake River Salmon Solutions

Bill McDonald, Director, Pacific Northwest Region, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation

THE PROGRAM

After years of contentious litigation and increasingly direct prodding from the federal court, many anticipated a sea change as the new administration reviewed and reconsidered a Biological Opinion that all but ruled out dam removal. Would it be enough to satisfy an increasingly exasperated Judge James A. Reddin, who has rejected two prior Biological Opinions and threatened to take over the recovery effort himself?

On September 15, 2009, the Obama Administration filed its much-anticipated "Adaptive Management Implementation Plan" (AMIP) in response to a sternly worded letter from Judge Redden last May. The new AIMP announced a new "insurance policy for fish."

But those cheering were not the environmentalists. Find out why, what happened, and what will happen next. Our speakers are behind-the-scenes players intimately involved in this epic battle. Don't miss this chance to hear their candid take on what is unfolding. And bring your questions - we expect a lively discussion.

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING

Norm Semanko, executive director of the Idaho Water Users Association: "The Obama administration was very thoughtful and very professional. It's obvious they took the extra time to do this right."

House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Republican Member Doc Hastings of Washington: "The Obama Administration has put dam removal back on the table and delivered just what dam removal extremists have been demanding. No one should be fooled by talk of dam removal and as a last resort when the Obama Administration is immediately launching studies and plans for such action. The extremists who brought this lawsuit may be critical about this plan because dam removal wasn't delivered on a silver platter with promises of wrecking balls arriving next week, but they got what they wanted from the Obama Administration and they'll try and convince Judge Redden to give them even more."

Todd True of Earthjustice, one of the attorneys for the fishing and conservation groups in the litigation: "Instead of the actions these fish need, they are offering a plan for more planning and a study for more studying. Nowhere is this more apparent than in their treatment of major changes to the dams and river operations, which are among the most critical issues for salmon survival and recovery."

Samuel N. Penney, Chairman of the Nez Perce Tribe: "The Administration's support for the flawed scientific and legal analysis in the 2008 BiOp that concludes the ESA is satisfied so long as one more fish is returning is impossible to square with President Obama's commitment to 'restoring science to its rightful place' and strengthening the ESA."

Terry Flores, executive director of Northwest RiverPartners, a group representing utilities, irrigators and barging shipping interests: "This plan - while expensive - holds the most promise for the region to move forward collectively to do things that actually benefit fish."

SPEAKER NOTES

Norm Semanko wears a variety of hats. He has long served as Executive Director and General Counsel for the Idaho Water Users Association. He practices law part time with the Rose Law Group and serves as of counsel to the law firm Barker, Rosholt and Simpson. He sits on the City Council for the City of Eagle. He is President of the Coalition for Idaho Water. Finally, he was elected last year as Chairman of the Idaho Republican Party.

Bert Bowler worked for the Idaho Department of Fish and Game for 29 years. After retiring, he worked for Idaho Rivers United, a grassroots river advocacy organization, for another 6 years. In 2007, Bert hung up his own shingle, Snake River Salmon Solutions, where he works as an independent and outspoken advocate for the fish.

Bill McDonald began his career with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. He served 11 years as Director of the Colorado Water Conservation Board. In 2001 and 2009, Bill served as the Acting Commissioner or Reclamation during the transitions between the administrations of Presidents Clinton, Bush, and Obama. Since 1999 he has served as Regional Director of the Bureau's Pacific Northwest Region.