The Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has affirmed an order to spill more water over the Columbia and Snake River dams to help protect salmon and steelhead.
U.S. District Court Judge Michael Simon ruled last spring that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers must spill more water through spillways, rather than turbines.
The National Marine Fisheries Service appealed -- but a three-judge Appeals Court panel rejected it Monday.
The new spill operations begin Tuesday at some dams on the Columbia and Snake Rivers.
Conservationists say the extra water will help young salmon migrate out to sea.
Conservation groups say this marks the fourth time since 2005 that increased spill has been mandated by the court.
(by the Associated Press)
