Montana governor fights Oregon's request for more water

Gov. Brian Schweitzer is pressing the Obama administration to back hydroelectric dam operations that favor Montana rivers and reservoirs but face continuous challenges from downstream interests. Specifically, Oregon and the National Wildlife Federation continue to press for more Montana water in the summer than what is provided in the 2008 Biological Opinion for the Columbia River Power System. The "BiOp" was developed through a collaboration of states, federal agencies and tribes, after years of disagreement and litigation. A federal judge has backed it so far, but Schweitzer is seeking additional support from the Obama administration's Council on Environmental Quality. "You may hear that the current BiOp is a product of the Bush administration and that it should be rejected as legally and technically flawed," Schweitzer wrote. "While the court will make judgments on the legal merits of the BiOp, this hearsay does not provide an accurate portrayal of the current BiOp." Schweitzer asserts that the 2008 BiOp is far superior to previous opinions...DailyInterLake