The National Marine Fisheries Service Hydropower Division, which is primarily based in Portland, Oregon, is responsible for salmon passage and survival issues associated with the major mainstream hydroelectric projects of the Pacific Northwest.  Its responsibilities include review of these issues related to activities under the jurisdiction of the Endangered Species Act (ESA), the Federal Power Act, the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act, and the Northwest Power Act.  Among other things, the Division focuses on dams operated by Federal agencies.  These includes both the 14 dams and reservoirs of the Federal Columbia River Power System and a system of 13 dams on tributaries in the Willamette River basin.  Another area of emphasis is non-Federal owned FERC licensed and other Federal projects on various rivers throughout the Pacific Northwest.  Included in the FERC projects are the five Mid-Columbia Public Utility District dams in Central Washington and the Hells Canyon Complex on the Snake River.  Some of the rivers with other major FERC projects with license applications under review include the Clackamas, Cowlitz, Deschutes, Lewis, McKenzie, North Umpqua, Sandy, and Willamette Rivers.  (click here for map).

Hydropower Division: Organizational Chart Staff Directory (pdf) Contacts Oversight, Policy and Administration Federal Columbia River Power System (FCRPS) Branch Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and Water Diversions Branch Section 7 Team Functions of the Hydropower Division: Biological Opinions (Formal Consultations) Draft Biological Opinions Concurrence Letters (Informal Consultations) Mid-Columbia River Habitat Conservation Plans and Environmental Impact Statements Columbia Basin Salmon Recovery Strategy Regional Implementation Forum

** Chris Toole is acting Assistant Regional Administrator for Hydropower Division until 2/05 while Brian Brown is on rotational assignment in Washington, D.C.