Prof. Rohlf weighs in on controversial federal cormorant culling program

Prof. Dan Rohlf  is quoted in this Seattle Times article, by Lynda V. Mapes, about a controversial federal cormorant culling program under which federal agents could eventually kill as many as 11,000 adult double-crested cormorants and destroy even more nests in the estuary of the Columbia River as part of a plan to save native salmon. 

“‘It all comes back to the dams and hydropower system,’ said Dan Rohlf, a professor at the Lewis & Clark Law School and attorney representing Portland Audubon and other plaintiffs in the suit. ‘Everyone agrees we need to take measures to improve threatened and endangered salmon and steelhead runs. The problem is … it is quite clear that killing cormorants will not accomplish that goal.’ He argued what’s needed are increases in flow and spill of water through the hydropower system to improve migratory conditions for fish. ‘But that is politically very unpopular. And cormorants are paying the price.’”

Read the entire story in the related content section.