TUESDAY, Nov. 30, 2004

Agreement signed today will open
174 miles of Lewis River to fish habitat

Cowlitz County Public Utility District and PacifiCorp today signed an historic agreement with affected counties, including Clark, state and federal agencies, American Indian tribes and environmental groups that will open up 174 miles of salmon habitat along the Lewis River.

In return, the utilities will get the right to operate three dams and a hydroelectric plant along the Lewis River for the next 50 years. The agreement is expected to be accepted by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission following an environmental review and to become effective in 2006.

The Lewis River watershed drains portions of Mount St. Helens and Mt. Adams is a “prodigious” producer of salmon from hatcheries supported by the utilities, according to Judi Johansen, president and CEO of PacifiCorp. The centerpiece of the settlement is a staged plan to open up 174 miles of habitat currently blocked to migrating fish. The effort will contribute to the recovery of salmon and steelhead runs in the lower Columbia River.

Fish passage systems will be built to transport adult fish around all three dams (Yale, Merwin and Swift 1) and to guide juvenile fish downstream through surface collectors.

Over the 50-year period, PacifiCorp agrees to spend $290 million, and Cowlitz PUD agrees to spend $19 million, for recreation, mitigation and enhancement measures covering fish, wildlife, recreation, and cultural and flood management.

Currently, PacifiCorp operates 14 parks and day-use facilities along the Lewis River and on the shores of Merwin, Yale and Swift reservoirs. The facilities are used by an estimated half-million people a year. The settlement envisions over $20 million in capital improvements over the next 50 years for parking, shelters, docks and boat launching facilities.

CREDC sets seminar for businesses
wanting to sell to the government

Columbia River Economic Development Council, the Procurement Technical Assistance Center for Clark, Cowlitz, Klickitat and Skamania Counties, is offering a 9 a.m.-to-noon, Wednesday, Dec. 8, seminar to assist businesses in marketing and selling products and services to federal, state and local governments.

Attendees will be provided with an introduction to the General Services Administration Federal Supply Schedule Program and will be given training on how to develop a successful proposal. In addition, GSA representatives will be available to discuss specific proposals after the session.

A $15 registration fee includes all materials and refreshments. For further information, call 694-5006. Online registration may be accomplished by going to www.credc.org/event_registration.cfm.

Over half-million trees planted at Salmon
Creek, more to go in the ground Saturday

Volunteers are being sought for a half-day of tree planting along Salmon Creek, Saturday, Dec. 4. The work party begins at 8:45 a.m. and will conclude by 1 p.m.

Since the Salmon Creek Enhancement Program was begun by Clark Public Utilities in 1992, 550,000 trees have been planted to help prevent erosion and to eventually provide shade to keep the creek cool. The utility has also released 467,000 steelhead and trout in Salmon Creek and other lakes and streams in Clark County.

For further information on the work party, call 992-8510.

Pearl Harbor survivors to
commemorate attack Dec. 7

The Vancouver Chapter of Pearl Harbor Survivors will commemorate the Dec. 7, 1941, attack in a public memorial service at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 7, in Pearson Air Museum, 1115 E 5th Street.

Keynote speaker will be Clark County commissioner-elect Marc Boldt, according to John Bruening, chapter president. The Fort Vancouver Division of the U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps will post the colors. Refreshments will follow a 20-minute slide show.

Clark College Women’s Choir in concert

The Clark College Women’s Choir Ensemble, directed by April Brookins Duvic, and the Vocal Jazz Ensemble, directed by Janet Reiter, present a concert at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 2, in the Decker Theatre at Clark College.

Admission is free, but contributions to the college music scholarship fund will be accepted.

News briefs

Vancouver’s Community Mediation Services is holding an informational night for potential volunteer mediators from 7 to 8 p.m. tonight in the council chambers at City Hall. g Clark County commissioners meet in informal session at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 1.
 

Headlines at home and from around the world:
(Click on the headlines below for the rest of the story)

Mount St. Helens VolcanoCam [updates every five minutes]--USDA Forest Service, Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument

Dino Rossi certified as governor elect, but not governor for sure--Seattle P-I, AP, David Ammons

Local retailers capturing holiday shoppers; boutiques to big-box stores feel surge of Clark County shoppers--Vancouver Business Journal--Cami Joner

C-TRAN downtown transit center ought to go, Vancouver says, but C-TRAN hasn't the money to make a move--Columbian, Erin Middlewood

Local cable company hiking rates in January--Columbian, Jonathan Nelson

Construction work continues on plankhouse near Ridgefield--Columbian, Dean Baker

Light snow reported at higher elevations in Clark County--Columbian

Hallelujah, Bravo! Vancouver returns with the Messiah at 3 p.m. Sunday--Columbian, Brett Oppegaard

Clark County to get nearly 9,000 more flu shots--Oregonian, Bill Stewart

NPR 5-minute hourly news updates (Audio)

Tuesday on the Air

Clark County Focus—5:30 p.m. CVTV
Community Tree Lighting Ceremony—6 p.m. CVTV
Seattle at Portland Blazers (live)—7 p.m. FSN, KXL
Portland Winter Hawks at Tri-City (live)—7 p.m. KXL
Great American Smoke-Out Youth Rally—7 p.m. CVTV
Vancouver Planning Commission (11/23)—7:30 p.m. CVTV
Climate Chance in the Pacific Northwest—11:30 p.m. CVTV
 

Town tabloids and the weather

Pat and Lynn Degerstedt tuning in on Nickelodeon at 8 p.m. each Sunday. g Susan Courtney showing a lot of heart. g Stephanie Moreau getting credit for presentation. g Melissa Young changing @ letters. g Muriel Fowler and Betty Sue Morris—cover girls. g Tuesday, grayer, showery, 48. Wednesday, gray, occasional rain, 51. Thursday, dry, sunbreaks, 48.