05/02/06 Judge could change Idaho river plan

US District Court judge James Redden said last week that he is 'inclined to agree' that upper Snake River water projects should be included as part of the lower Snake and Columbia River projects. Norm Semanko of the Idaho Coalition for Water thinks that's the wrong way to go and will create chaos with the potential for another Klamath basin type shutdown. SEMANKO "How will the river run this year if the program is thrown out? Will he allow the river to be run under that program while it's being rewritten or will he take over management of the river?" He will be in Redden's Portland courtroom tomorrow to argue that the management of the 22 dams and reservoirs on the upper Snake River does not jeopardize Columbia River salmon recovery efforts. Semanko is also preparing for the worst and that's why he's already started talking with the Idaho Congressional delegation about legislation to keep the Idaho management plan intact. SEMANKO "We're not going to stand by and allow our rivers to be dried up because of some maddening reckless agenda the environmental groups seeking to put pressure on us to all support removal of the dams." And there's no estimation when Redden will issue a final ruling in the water case. Voice of Idaho Agriculture Bill Scott