Willamette Project Biological Opinion
On July 11, 2008, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and NOAA Fisheries (NMFS) issued biological opinions to complete their consultations with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Bonneville Power Administration and the Bureau of Reclamation on the impact of the Willamette Project on ESA-listed species in the Willamette River Basin.
The Endangered Species Act (ESA) requires any federal agency proposing to do anything that might affect an ESA-listed species (such as issuing a permit, spending money, taking a direct action) to first seek the opinion of USFWS and NMFS about the effects of the action on the species. These resource agencies issue biological opinions to the agencies making the proposal. The primary goal of a biological opinion is to ensure that the proposed federal action won't reduce the likelihood of survival and recovery of the listed species.
The NMFS biological opinion can be found at:
http://www.nwr.noaa.gov/Salmon-Hydropower/Willamette-Basin/Willamette-BO.cfm.