Salmon advocates ask for more water over dams

Wednesday, November 26, 2008 3:34 PM CST

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - Salmon advocates and the state of Oregon are asking a federal judge to order more water spilled over Columbia River dams to help young salmon migrate downriver to the ocean.

The motion for an injunction was filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Portland.

It is part of the litigation over how to balance hydroelectric needs against threatened and endangered salmon in the Columbia Basin. Water spilled over the dams doesn’t go through turbines to generate power.

Liz Hamilton of the Northwest Sportfishing Industry Association says evidence shows that increased spill is respon-sible for improved salmon returns this year, and the dam operators should do even more.

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