It's been more than three months since Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., launched her bid to leave the federal government's fish recovery efforts along the lower Snake River locked in place.
If anything, the case for doing that has become weaker.
As of now, U.S. District Court Judge Michael Simon has ordered the federal dam community to undertake yet another plan to recover salmon. It's the fifth time a federal judge has determined the government - after spending more than $15 billion during more than 20 years- has failed to comply with the Endangered Species Act.
Under Simon's order, the agencies may have to show whether taxpayers and ratepayers are getting a return on the investment they've been making in the four dams along the lower Snake River. Given the slide in navigation and the changes in the region's demand for hydropower, that's more than a reasonable question to ask.
On another front, Simon wants the federal dam community to allow more spill next year to help young fish migrate to the Pacific Ocean.
But McMorris Rodgers, joined by four colleagues - Reps. Jaime Herrera Beutler and Dan Newhouse, both R-Wash., Greg Walden, R-Ore., and Kurt Schrader, D-Ore. - wants Congress to suspend Simon's order and leave in place until 2022 the recovery plan he rejected as inadequate.
They contend the Federal Columbia River Power System's plan is working well enough.
Where are they getting that?
Not from the most recent fish counts.
For instance, the number of returning wild spring/summer chinook that reached Lower Granite Dam was put at 7,500 this year - down from 21,000 two years ago.
Last month, Idaho responded to a disappointing A-run steelhead by imposing a catch-and-release season. The Fish and Game Commission may relent by allowing a limited season, but only because fish counts have trended slightly upward. Even at that, there are anglers who argue doing so puts wild fish at some risk.
Nor is there any evidence of a groundswell of support. No member of Congress has signed on as a co-sponsor of the McMorris Rodgers bill since June 29.
In fact, a contingent of fish advocates - such as Idaho Rivers United and the Idaho Conservation League - recently wrote Congressman Raul Labrador, R-Idaho, expressing their "deep gratitude for your decision not to co-sponsor" the McMorris Rodgers bill.
None of which has deterred McMorris Rodgers - the highest ranking Republican woman in Congress - from taking the next step.
Thursday, the measure goes to a hearing before the Water, Power and Oceans subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee.
Among the members of the panel is newly elected Rep. Greg Gianforte, R-Mont.
Who know what comes next?
Perhaps McMorris Rodgers will find her handiwork attached to a piece of must-pass legislation such as a continuing resolution to keep government open or a Hurricane Maria relief bill.
So who's interest is McMorris Rodgers serving here? Perhaps an angler or an outfitter who is less than thrilled with a catch-and-release steelhead fishing season might ask her. - M.T.
