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Public Invited to Discuss Nason Creek/White River Spring Chinook
Input Sought from Interested Stakeholders
May 11, 2007
Ephrata, WA – On Thursday, May 17, officials from tribes, fish agencies, the U.S. Forest Service, local government and Grant County PUD will hold a meeting for the public to discuss preliminary projects intended to restore populations of Upper Columbia River White River and Nason Creek spring Chinook.
The White River spring Chinook population is one of five spring Chinook spawning groups in the Wenatchee River Basin. In March 1999, NOAA Fisheries determined that Upper Columbia River spring Chinook were at risk of becoming extinct in the foreseeable future and listed them as endangered under the Endangered Species Act.
“This meeting will be the third in a series to provide information and solicit input from the public on the White River and Nason Creek Upper Columbia River spring Chinook supplementation programs,” said Stephen Brown, Grant PUD director of natural resources. “We will provide an update on our progress in developing programs and offer local stakeholders an opportunity to assist us with brainstorming ways to implement these ideas.”
Organizations and agencies involved in the meeting include NOAA Fisheries, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, the U.S. Forest Service, the Yakama Nation, the Colville Confederated Tribes, the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation and Grant PUD.
Under a 2004 Biological Opinion issued by the National Marine Fisheries Service for the Priest Rapids Project, Grant PUD is required to protect, mitigate and enhance fish and wildlife resources affected by the Priest Rapids Project.
Under the mandate of the Biological Opinion, Grant PUD is required to fund and implement the Nason Creek and White River spring Chinook Salmon Program as two of 40 required actions. As part of this regulatory requirement, Grant PUD must locate facilities along Nason Creek and the White River.
For more information on the White River proposal or to get involved with the process, please visit Grant PUD’s Web site at www.gcpud.org/resources/resLicensing/stewResponse.htm. or call (509) 754-6633.
Event Details:
What: Public Meeting on White River spring Chinook
Where: Lake Wenatchee Recreation Center (Lake Wenatchee Air Strip)
1440 Chiwawa Loop Road, Leavenworth
When: Thursday, May 17, 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
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Grant County Public Utility District is a Washington state municipal corporation that began electric service in 1942. Owned by the people it serves, Grant PUD generates and sells electricity to Grant County residents and millions of customers throughout Central Washington and the Pacific Northwest. The Priest Rapids Project, comprised of Priest Rapids and Wanapum Dams, produces nearly 2,000 megawatts of clean, renewable and reliable electricity – enough to supply a city the size of Seattle. A leader in science based technology; Grant PUD is committed to finding effective measures for the protection, mitigation and enhancement of salmon, steelhead and other natural and cultural resources.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Sarah Morford
(509) 754-6633 / smorfor@gcpud.org
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