In July 2009, The U.S. Department of Energy Inspector General’s Office completed a year-plus audit of BPA fish hatchery funding. The IG made no formal recommendations for improvement.

“To its credit,” the IG said in its final letter report, “Bonneville plans to enhance its use of adaptive management to ensure that hatchery projects are based on sound scientific principles, have clearly defined objectives and outcome-oriented performance measures, and include appropriate management plans that deliver cost-effective mitigation of risks to fish.” The IG concluded that BPA’s Taurus and Pisces project management systems will document project decision histories and ensure that fish hatchery projects address major scientific concerns.

Hatchery funding is a significant issue for the Pacific Northwest. About 80 percent of adult Columbia Basin salmon and steelhead originate as hatchery stock. The region’s hatcheries are designed to rebuild stocks listed under the Endangered Species Act and to preserve and increase harvest opportunities for tribal, commercial and recreational fisheries. BPA financially supports about 45 percent of the basin’s hatcheries under several different legal mandates. BPA is an active participant in and supporter of several ongoing regional hatchery reviews.

• IG's final letter report (34KB)
• BPA's response (46KB)
• Technical Appendix (57KB)