Lower Snake River Juvenile Salmon Migration Feasibility Report Environmental Impact Statement Chapters 1 4

The Corps of Engineers, along with the Bonneville Power Administration, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and U.S. Bureau of Reclamation as cooperating agencies, analyzed four general alternatives intended to provide information on the technical, environmental, and economic effects of actions related to improving juvenile salmon passage. The four alternatives include Alternative 1-Existing Conditions (the no-action alternative) and three different ways to further improve juvenile salmon passage. The action alternatives are as follows: Alternative 2- Maximum Transport of Juvenile Salmon; Alternative 3-Major System Improvements; and Alternative 4-Dam Breaching. Based on a thorough examination of the best available biological, economic, social, and other environmental information, Alternative 3-Major System Improvements has been selected as the recommended plan (preferred alternative).

This Final Feasibility Report/Environmental Impact Statement (RE/EIS) and its 21 appendices document the results of a comprehensive analysis of the four dams on the lower Snake River (collectively called the Lower Snake River Project) and their effects on four lower Snake River salmon and steelhead stocks listed for protection under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), along with Bonneville Power Agency (BPA), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) as cooperating agencies, analyzed four alternatives to evaluate the best way to improve juvenile salmon migration through Lower Snake River Project. The Final FR/EIS includes the best available information on the biological effectiveness, engineering components, costs, economic effects, and other environmental effects associated with the four alternatives: Alternative 1-Existing Conditions, Alternative 2-Maximum Transport of Juvenile Salmon, Alternative 3-Major System Improvements (Adaptive Migration), and Alternative 4-Dam Breaching. In the Final FR/EIS, the Corps identifies Alternative 3-Major System Improvements (adaptive Migration) as the recommended plan (preferred alternative) and explains the process for selecting the alternative.

The Corps of Engineers along with the Bonneville Power Administration, US Environmental Protection Agency, and US Bureau of Reclamation as cooperating agencies, analyzed four general alternatives intended to provide information on the technical, environmental, and economic effects of actions related to improving juvenile salmon passage. The four alternatives include Alternative 1 - Existing Conditions (the no-action alternative) and three different ways to further improve juvenile salmon passage. The action alternatives are: Alternative 2 - Maximum Transport of Juvenile Salmon, Alternative 3 Major System Improvements, and Alternative 4 - Darn Breaching. Comparison of the alternatives by all of the factors assessed in the study has not offered a clear-cut recommendation at this time. It is the Corps of Engineer's intent to recommend a preferred plan of action in the Final FR/EIS.

The Corps of Engineers along with the Bonneville Power Administration, US Environmental Protection Agency, and US Bureau of Reclamation as cooperating agencies, analyzed four general alternatives intended to provide information on the technical, environmental, and economic effects of actions related to improving juvenile salmon passage. The four alternatives include Alternative 1 Existing Conditions (the no-action alternative) and three different ways to further improve juvenile salmon passage. The action alternatives are: Alternative 2 - Maximum Transport of Juvenile Salmon, Alternative 3 - Major System Improvements, and Alternative 4 - Dam Breaching. Comparison of the alternatives by all of the factors assessed in the study has not offered a clear-cut recommendation at this time. It is the Corps of Engineer's intent to recommend a preferred plan of action in the Final FR/EIS.

This Final Feasibility Report/Environmental Impact Statement (RE/EIS) and its 21 appendices document the results of a comprehensive analysis of the four dams on the lower Snake River (collectively called the Lower Snake River Project) and their effects on four lower Snake River salmon and steelhead stocks listed for protection under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), along with Bonneville Power Agency (BPA), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and U.S. Bureau of reclamation (BOR) as cooperating agencies, analyzed four alternative to evaluate the best way to improve juvenile salmon migration through Lower Snake River Project. The Final FR/EIS includes the best available information on the biological effectiveness, engineering components, costs, economic effects, and other environmental effects associated with the four alternatives: Alternative 1-Existing Conditions, Alternative 2-Maximum Transport of Juvenile Salmon, Alternative 3-Major System Improvements (Adaptive Migration), and Alternative 4-Dam Breaching. In the Final FR/EIS, the Corps identifies Alternative 3-Major System Improvements (Adaptive Migration) as the recommended plan (preferred alternative) and explains the process for selecting that alternative.

The Corps of Engineers along with the Bonneville Power Administration. US Environmental Protection Agency, and US bureau of Reclamation as cooperating agencies, analyzed four general alternatives intended to provide information on the technical environmental, and economic effects of actions related to improving juvenile salmon passage. The four Alternative include Alternative 1- Existing Conditions (the no-action alternative) and three different ways to further improve juvenile salmon passage. The action alternatives are: Alternative 2 - Maximum Transport of Juvenile Salmon, Alternative 3 Major System Improvements, and Alternative 4 - Dam Breaching. Comparison of the alternatives by all of the factors assessed in the study has not offered a clear-cut recommendation at this time. It is the Corps of Engineer's intent to recommend a preferred plan of action in the Final FR/EIS.