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Salmon Options by Mary Lynn Gregson The Daily Astorian, October 9, 2009

The issue of the Obama administration's recently released salmon plan for the Columbia basin is perplexing. While many in the Northwest remain skeptical about the plan's ability to get the region what it really needs - healthy, sustainable populations of wild salmon in our rivers - many also balk at the notion that Judge James Redden could rule another salmon plan illegal.

The editorial, "Don't wait for transformation" (The Daily Astorian, Sept. 21), seemed to echo this skepticism. Yet with a plan that is so strikingly similar to the George Bush salmon policies, how could we assume anything different? I'm led to wonder how the federal government thinks it can get away with letting a species, especially one that helps form the fabric of the Northwest, decline toward extinction when there are clearly other available options.

I hope Judge Redden has the courage to call for some sort of settlement process that includes stakeholders and can take a hard look at all options for our region's treasured fish.