Redden makes it clear the bar is higher than we think for salmon

When Washington’s congressional delegation killed Idaho Republican Sen. Jim Risch’s efforts to begin a regional dialogue to seek a resolution to the Columbia and Snake River salmon debate, they were confident that U.S. District Judge James Redden might accept the compromise forged between federal agencies, three states and most tribes. Risch’s idea was to begin a process that was centered in the region, not driven by a judge or the new Democratic administration. Even some Idaho interests weren’t very excited especially water users who thought that maybe because of the strong support of their partners in the water rights agreement, the Nez Perce, they didn’t have to worry about the Judge coming back for more water. Redden sent everyone a letter Monday that set down the law. He said he didn’t buy the Bush Administration’s “trending toward recovery standard” for deciding if salmon were jeopardized by the dams. “Even if "trending toward recovery" is a permissible interpretation of the jeopardy regulation, the conclusion that all 13 species are, in fact, on a "trend toward recovery" is arbitrary and capricious...Idaho Statesman