Columbia Basin Hatcheries Environmental Impact Statement

In August 2010, NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries Service) released a draft environmental impact statement (EIS) on funding and operation of hatchery programs in the Columbia River Basin. NOAA Fisheries Service received 418 letters containing over 1000 comments. Additional comments were received in public meetings. NOAA Fisheries Service is using these comments to improve the EIS and identify a preferred alternative. NOAA Fisheries Service expects to release a supplemental draft or final EIS in early 2013. For more information on the Columbia River Basin Hatchery EIS, contact James Dixon of the Salmon Management Division at 360-534-9329.