House Acts to Address Threat of Predatory Birds to Northwest Salmon
Washington,
Jun 6, 2012 -
Language authored by Congressman Doc Hastings to direct federal agencies to protect Northwest salmon from predatory birds on the Columbia River passed the House of Representatives as a part of H.R. 5325 today by a vote of 255 to 165.
“It only makes sense to focus scarce federal resources on the most significant threat to endangered salmon, and last Fall’s scientific report makes it clear that predatory birds pose a real danger to fish recovery efforts on the Columbia River,” said Hastings. “Northwest residents face limits on economic and recreational activities and pay nearly one billion dollars annually through utililty bills and taxpayer dollars on efforts to benefit only a small percentage of endangered salmon– all while predatory birds are eating as much as 15 percent every year. I am pleased that the House acted today to address this threat as a priority.”
Hastings’ language, included in the report accompanying H.R. 5325, authorizes the Army Corps of Engineers to expedite any appropriate actions, including lethal removal, to address the significant threat of these predatory birds.
A report released last Fall by Oregon State University and the U.S. Geological Survey concluded that Caspian Terns nesting at Goose Island in Potholes Reservoir, as well as other predatory birds in the region including cormorants and gulls, consume as much as 15 percent of migrating endangered upper Columbia River steelhead smolts. The Corps of Engineers has advised Hastings that it is preparing two separate reports relating to Northwest fish-eating birds with recommendations to address this expanding problem, but has yet to take any specific action to eliminate this threat.
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