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NMFS' Lohn Shows Right Style for Times by Tri-City Herald Capital Press - March 22, 2002

Bob Lohn, by virute of the politics that put him into office, was all but guaranteed a friendly reception when he came to the Tri-Cities recently for the first time since taking the helm of the National Marine Fisheries Service Northwest office.

But Lohn wasn't playing to the crowd.

In what fans say is his trademark straight-shooting style, Lohn made it clear he is no advocate of complacency.

His Republican president may have promised the Mid-Columbia his administration would spare the Snake River dams, but Lohn appears ready to compel the Northwest to nonetheless keep salmon survival in its sights.

Lohn seems to offer an evenhanded approach that could continue to lead this region away from the infighting that has characterized the salmon-recovery debate for too long, provided he can earn the respect of all sides and convince them to steer clear of all-or-nothing strategies.

Lohn walks a fine line between making the reforms he thinks will lead salmon recovery in a more fruitful direction and convincing skeptics his Republican bosses still are serious about saving fish. This region has the opportunity to make real progress if he suceeds.