1. Lower Snake River Operations
Columbia-Snake River Irrigators Association Water Resources Management, Economics, Policy
Mission Statement
The CSRIA will “keep the water at the pumps,” and it will work to enhance access to new water supplies for its irrigation, industrial, and municipal members.
The standard for effective water resources management is competence and honesty.
Lower Snake River Operations
Ice Harbor Pool.
About 60,000 Acres, McNary Confluence.
About $195 Million Statewide Household Income.
CSRIA-April 2018
CSRIA-ESA-God Squad Review

2. Columbia-Snake River Irrigators Association Ending Columbia-Snake River ESA Litigation
The ESA Saga
13 Salmon-Steelhead Species, ESA-Listed Since 1992.
Years of Relentless ESA Litigation/Judicial Review?
ESA Biological Opinion—Reasonable and Prudent Alternatives (RPAs) for Avoiding Risk of Extinction?
Bonneville Power Administration Expenditures—Our Money.
Future: More Hydro Project and Water Management Impacts $$.
ESA-Authorized GOD SQUAD, Deliver Us from Evil.
CSRIA-April 2018
CSRIA-ESA-God Squad Review

3. The Path Toward God Squad
Columbia-Snake River Irrigators Association Ending Columbia-Snake River ESA Litigation
The Path Toward God Squad
BPA Billion$
$22B
U.S. OR Dist. Judge
James Redden
U.S. OR Dist. Judge
Michael Simon
$17B
2017-Injunction New BiOp?
2020-EIS?
2015-Killing Fish—Agencies Out-of-Control.
$10B
BPA Funding
$750M--$1B/Year.
Five BiOp Remands: Hyro Project Spill; No New Water Rights; No Water Rights.
$1B
1992
2008
2016
2018
2020
CSRIA-April 2018
CSRIA-ESA-God Squad Review

4. Columbia-Snake River Irrigators Association Ending Columbia-Snake River ESA Litigation
ESA Committee
(God Squad)
Secretary of Interior, Chairman
Secretary of Agriculture
Secretary of Army
Secretary of Energy
Secretary of Commerce/NOAA
EPA Head
Governor(s)s Representative
Tribal Representative
May Grant an Exemption to the Hydro Project Operations for “Risk of Extinction to Species.”
CSRIA-April 2018
CSRIA-ESA-God Squad Review

5. Columbia-Snake River Irrigators Association Ending Columbia-Snake River ESA Litigation
ESA Committee Process
Secretary of Interior, Chairman:
Directs Preparation of Application for Exemption by Interior (USBR Staff).
Secretary of Interior Provides Initial Review and Acceptance of Exemption Application.
Application Key Features/Steps
Reliance on Existing BiOp
Actions and Steps.
CSRIA-April 2018
CSRIA-ESA-God Squad Review

6. Columbia-Snake River Irrigators Association Ending Columbia-Snake River ESA Litigation
ESA Committee Process
Application Exemption:
Agency Consultation Process—Already Completed for 2014 BiOp; Adequate RPAs Considered.
Defer to Judge Simon’s 2016 BiOp Remand Order—2014 BiOp RPAs “Not Good Enough” to Avoid Risk of Extinction.
Reference All Previous Environmental Assessments Leading to the 2014 BiOp.
CSRIA-April 2018
CSRIA-ESA-God Squad Review

7. Columbia-Snake River Irrigators Association Ending Columbia-Snake River ESA Litigation
ESA Committee Process
Sect. of Interior, Chairman:
Approves/Accepts Exemption Application.
Convenes ESA Committee at Public Hearing (Tri-Cities, WA).
Prepares and Submits Report to ESA Committee.
Report Endorses Hydro Projects’ Exemption—
Mitigation Measures.
2014 BiOp RPAs.
Statement of Public Interest.
CSRIA-April 2018
CSRIA-ESA-God Squad Review

8. Columbia-Snake River Irrigators Association Ending Columbia-Snake River ESA Litigation
Life without God Squad
Governed by BiOp Litigation and Judge Michael Simon, Along with Earth Justice and Oregon.
ESA Legislative Relief? Really?
Political Agreement? Really? :
More Project Spill.
Reservoir Drawdowns.
More BPA $$.
Life with God Squad
ESA Statute and Administrative Protection—Section 1536.
Hydro Projects’ Exemption and Mitigation Plan in Place.
Subject to Judicial Review—But Much Different Standard than BiOp RPAs.
CSRIA-April 2018
CSRIA-ESA-God Squad Review