Page 28 - ARUBA TODAY

A28 SCIENCE
Wednesday 14 March 2018
California salmon will have places to chill with dam removal

By ELLEN KNICKMEYER Doug Killam, a senior envi- life officials said.
Associated Press ronmental scientist with the In 2014 and 2015, nearly
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — state wildlife agency. "It's entire generations of the
A $100 million project re- kind of a jewel of the sys- winter-run Chinook died in
moving dams and helping tem." the too-warm Sacramento,
fish route around others is The ongoing restoration as humans competed with
returning a badly endan- project has removed one the fish for water releases
gered salmon to spring- dam blocking access to from behind Shasta Dam
fed waters in northernmost the fish and will remove during a five-year drought.
California, giving cold-lov- four more dams. Trying to keep cold-loving
ing native fish a life-saving A similar agreement, now salmon by eeking out cold
place to chill as scien- awaiting approval or de- water from behind dams
tists say climate change, In this March 2, 2018 photo provided by the U.S. Fish and Wild- nial by the Federal Energy is becoming more compli-
drought and human diver- life Service, Brad Carter begins releasing approximately 29,000 Regulatory Commission, cated still as the climate
sions warm the waters. endangered winter-run juvenile Chinook salmon into the North would remove a series of changes, said Howard
State and federal officials, Fork of Battle Creek, a tributary of the Sacramento River near dams blocking access to Brown of NOAA fisheries.
in a years-long project with Manton, Calif. Associated Press salmon farther north, in the Easing the winter-run Chi-
dam-owner Pacific Gas Klamath River watershed. nook's dependence on a
& Electric Co., plan to re- 1930s blocked winter-run extinction. Other parts of this project single waterway, the Sac-
lease 200,000 young, en- Chinook from upstream Because of Battle Creek's included building bet- ramento, is a good start, a
dangered winter-run Chi- waterways, cutting their spring-fed cold water, and ter fish ladders and fish fishing industry trade group
nook salmon over the next numbers from nearly a the difficulty of keeping screens to give migrating said in a statement.
two months into the north million to a few thousand the Sacramento River cool salmon an easier time nav- "Salmon fishermen used
fork of Battle Creek, where barely getting by in warm enough for the winter-run igating around remaining to have good fishing right
melted snow percolating downstream stretches of Chinook, state and federal obstacles. outside the Golden Gate in
through volcanic rock pro- the Sacramento River, the agencies made a priority It's crucial to the survival February years ago before
vides ideal habitat for na- state Department of Fish of making Battle Creek ac- of winter-run salmon to re- winter run salmon were
tive salmon and steelhead and Wildlife says. cessible to winter-run Chi- store populations beyond decimated," said John Mc-
that thrive in cold moun- The National Oceanic and nook again. the one hanging on in the Manus, head of the Gold-
tain water. Atmospheric Administra- "Battle Creek has long Sacramento River, where a en Gate Salmon Associa-
Dam-building for elec- tion ranks winter-run Chi- been recognized as an disaster like a chemical spill tion.
trical generation and nook as one of eight ma- ideal resource for cold wa- or another drought could "Maybe someday we'll see
water storage from the rine species most at risk of ter from snow melt," said wipe out the species, wild- this again."q

Judge: Trump administration

violated law over smog findings

wood Gilliam ordered the and emphysema, and the he said. The EPA acknowl-
U.S. Environmental Protec- new standards would save edged that it violated the
tion Agency to complete hundreds of lives each Clean Air Act by failing to
the designations by the year. The designations trig- issue the air quality desig-
end of April. ger a process that forces nations by the October 1
His ruling was for two law- polluted regions to take deadline, but said it was
suits, including one filed by steps to improve air quality. moving fast and would
California, 13 other states An email for comment sent complete the process no
In this March 28, 2017 file photo, President Donald Trump, ac- and the District of Colum- to the U.S. Department of later than April 30, accord-
companied by from left, Vice President Mike Pence, Environ- bia. Justice was not immedi- ing to Gilliam's ruling.
mental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt, and The EPA had until October ately returned. Gilliam rejected the states'
Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, speaks at EPA headquarters in 1, 2017, to designate what California Attorney Gener- request that the EPA move
Washington, prior to signing an Energy Independence Execu- parts of the country were al Xavier Becerra said in a faster on some designa-
tive Order. in and out of compliance statement on Monday that tions and make all desig-
Associated Press with tougher smog stan- the state will "closely moni- nations effective immedi-
By SUDHIN THANAWALA line to identify all parts of dards adopted during the tor" the EPA to make sure it ately.
Associated Press the U.S. that don't meet air Obama administration. meets the court's order. Becerra and Democratic
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — quality standards for smog, The states' lawsuit said "We stand ready to do officials in other states have
The Trump administration a federal judge ruled on smog can cause or ag- what's necessary to ensure repeatedly clashed with
violated federal law when Monday. gravate diseases including that the EPA does not shirk the Trump administration
it failed to meet a dead- U.S. District Judge Hay- heart disease, bronchitis its legal responsibilities," over the its push to loosen
environmental regulations.
Becerra was joined in the
smog suit by the attorneys
general in Connecticut, Il-
linois, Iowa, Maine, Mary-
land, Massachusetts, New
York, Oregon, Pennsylva-
nia, Rhode Island, Vermont
and Washington state.
Minnesota's Pollution Con-
trol Agency also joined the
suit.q