The Confederated Warm Springs Tribes joined environmentalists in criticizing a new biological opinion that concludes salmon aren't threatened by four federal dams in the Pacific Northwest.

Tribal chairman Ron Suppah said the government's plan to restore salmon was "absurd. He said the dams are the biggest killers of fish in the Columbia Basin.

The opinion was filed in court by the NOAA Fisheries. The plan calls for $6 billion on improvements to the dams, including installation of spillway designed to help migrating fish.

Get the Story:
Fisheries agency says Columbia Basin dams don't threaten salmon (AP 9/10)

Relevant Links:
NOAA Fisheries - http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov

Related Stories:
Federal agencies change minds on removal of dams (09/01)