DRAFTING FROM AN OVERDRAWN ACCOUNT: CONTINUING WATER DIVERSIONS FROM THE MAINSTEM COLUMBIA AND SNAKE RIVERS

Water is a finite resource. The [Northwest Power Planning] Council is concerned that continuing diversions of Columbia River and tributary water will degrade stream conditions needed by salmon and steelhead. Competing demands for water must be evaluated, and Idaho, Oregon, and Washington must consider the cumulative effects of new diversions on water for salmon and steelhead. Elsewhere in this program, the Council calls for water efficiency, water marketing programs, and other means of augmenting flows for fish. Continuing with water diversions that would deprive salmon and steelhead of the benefits of these programs would make little sense.