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NFC: Fw: [Updates] River Policy Update 12-30-99


VIEW THIS ON THE AMERICAN RIVERS WEBPAGE WITH DIRECT LINKS TO THE ACTUAL
BILLS!! http://www.amrivers.org/policynew.html
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American Rivers Policy Update
December 30, 1999

With Congress in recess until early January, this update features
information on new reports and developments of interest to the river
community.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

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REMOVING DAMS HAS MANY BENEFITS, NEW REPORT SAYS

Removing dams is often the most effective way to restore rivers, save dam
owners and taxpayers money, revitalize riverside communities, and improve
public safety, according to a new report released December 13.

The report, Dam Removal Success Stories: Restoring Rivers through
Selective
Removal of Dams that Don't Make Sense, released by American Rivers,
Friends
of the Earth, and Trout Unlimited, documents more than 465 dams that have
been removed across the country and includes 25 detailed case studies of
dam
removal success stories. It is the most comprehensive review to date of
the
history and benefits of dam removal in the United States.

To read the report, press releases, and other information on dam removal,
visit http://www.amrivers.org/successstories.html.


NMFS, CORPS SCIENCE STUDIES SUPPORT DAM REMOVAL,
ADMINISTRATION MISREPRESENTS SCIENCE

Federal studies strongly support removal of four dams on Washington's
Lower
Snake River to save endangered runs of salmon and steelhead. Studies by
the
National Marine Fisheries Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and
the
U.S. Army Corps Engineers conclude that dam removal must be part of any
salmon recovery plan - contradicting statements by Gen. Carl Strock and
NMFS
Regional Administrator Will Stelle.

Dam removal alone would save endangered fall chinook and steelhead, and
must
also be part of any strategy designed to save endangered runs of
spring/summer chinook, according to a study by the National Marine
Fisheries
Service. A separate report by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
concludes
that dam removal would provide significantly greater benefits for salmon
than retrofitting dams and accelerating fish transportation efforts.

To read summaries of the reports, access the full reports, or for more
information on the Snake Rivers and endangered salmon, visit
http://www.amrivers.org/snake.html.


RIVERS REBORN – REMOVING DAMS AND RESTORING RIVERS IN CALIFORNIA

Friends of the Rivers - California's statewide river conservation
organization - recently released a report that identifies for the first
time
in one place the more than two dozen dams around the state that have been
considered for removal or decommissioning. Spotlights in the publication
include everything from a tiny irrigation structure to a towering,
280-foot-high dam.

The 20-page report, titled Rivers Reborn: Removing Dams and Restoring
Rivers
in California, was compiled from a number of different sources, including
governmental studies and recommendations.

The report is available at www.friendsoftheriver.org.


DECOMMISSIONING OF HYDROPOWER FACILITY TO RESTORE NATURAL TREASAURE

In November, American Rivers announced an agreement in principle with
Arizona Public Service to remove an operating hydropower facility on
Fossil
Creek to restore this major tributary of the Verde River in Central
Arizona.

APS will take full financial responsibility for removing the
Childs-Irving
hydropower facility, which has left the 14-mile creek almost entirely dry
for over 80 years. APS has agreed to restore the flows of Fossil Creek no
later than December 31, 2004. All signatories will sign a final
settlement
no later than July 1, 1999.

For more information on Fossil Creek or to see the full agreement, visit
http://www.amrivers.org/sw-fossilpress.html.


IT’S NOT TOO LATE TO SIGN ON FOR RIVER FUNDING FOR FY’01

American Rivers is again accepting sign-ons for the River Budget:
National
Priorities for Local River Conservation in FY 2001. As of November 1,
more
than 400 river conservation organizations, community groups, recreation
organizations, and others had added their names to the list of groups
supporting the budget (see http://www.amrivers.org/rbudget2001list.html
for
the full list of sign on groups as of November 1).

To see the final River Budget for FY’01 visit
http://www.amrivers.org/rbudget.html. To sign on in support, contact Suzy
McDowell at smcdowell at amrivers_org.

Note – the River Budget for FY’01 went to the printers in late October.
All
groups that sign on to the River Budget after November 15 will be listed
on
an addendum sheet to be inserted in the printed documents and added to
the
online list of sign on groups.


VISIT YOUR MEMBERS OF CONGRESS OVER WINTER RECESS AND URGE THEM TO FULLY
SUPPORT RIVER BUDGET INITIATIVES

Members of Congress are home until early January and NEED TO HEAR FROM
YOU.
This is a great opportunity to focus their attention on river funding in
the
next fiscal year.
Legislators will begin developing appropriations bills for FY'01 early in
2000.
For more on visiting your Members during recess in support of increased
funding for river conservation and restoration, see
http://www.amrivers.org/rbudgetvisit.html.


CONGRESSIONAL SCHEDULE

The second session of the 106th Congress is scheduled to resume on
January
24, 2000. The President will deliver his State of the Union speech on
January 27, 2000. The dates for Congress’ winter and spring recesses are
February 21-25 (President's Day) and April 17-28 (spring recess). Members
usually return to their district offices during recess, providing you
with a
good opportunity to meet face to face with your elected officials and
urge
them to support conservation initiatives important to your community. For
more information on setting up a meeting with your Members of Congress
during recess, visit http://www.amrivers.org/rbudgetvisit.html or contact
Suzy McDowell at smcdowell at amrivers_org.


********************
Suzy McDowell
Outreach Coordinator
American Rivers
1025 Vermont Ave, NW, #720
Washington, DC 20005
202-347-7550 x3040
smcdowell at amrivers_org