51st Association of Power Biologists Annual Conference

Dear APB Members,
Plans are moving along for the Association of Power Biologists 51st Annual Conference. This year’s host utility will be Puget Sound Energy (PSE) in Mt. Vernon, Washington. Attendees will gain experience from presentations made around the region from professionals engaged in aquatic and terrestrial research, mitigation, and compliance. Included with the conference, participants will get the opportunity to see the Baker River Hydro Electric Project. PSE received a new license for this project in October of 2008, and the utility is actively installing new facilities at the project.
Tentatively, the project tour will cover:

• the Floating Surface Collector (FSC ) for collection of downstream salmon migrants out of Baker Lake;
• preliminary approach for a new FSC on the lower Baker reservoir;
• the recently completed adult trap and acclimation pond which should be in full operation for the 2010 sockeye adult migration;
• the new Baker Hatchery; and
• recently purchased lands for elk foraging habitat

Upper Baker Dam's new "Floating Surface Collector Concrete, WA	Lower Baker Dam Concrete, WA

The conference is scheduled for September 29th – October 1st, 2010 in Mt. Vernon, Washington. On September 29th, the APB Opening Night Social shall begin at 6:30 pm and will be located at River Side Lanes in Mt. Vernon. On September 30th, the 2010 Conference tours will commence for the Baker River Hydro Electric Project. Following the tours, the APB dinner will be catered at a location to be determined.

If you would like to be a presenter at the 2010 workshop, start thinking about topics or papers to present. Our first call for papers will be May 3, 2010. With New FERC Licenses, Biological Opinions and Habitat Conservation Plans being issued, we all have a lot of projects/programs to implement and we encourage you to share your thoughts, progress, and approaches to these new challenges we’re all facing. New members are encouraged to apply and are welcome to attend the 2010 Conference. An application and membership requirements are appended to this announcement. New applications can be mailed to Dennis Schwartz, APB Secretary (P.O. Box 2946 [CENWP-PM-E] Portland, OR 97208-2946).

We look forward to seeing you in September!

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE

LODGING

Best Western CottonTree Inn
2300 Market Street
Mount Vernon, Washington, 98273-5449
Phone: 360/428-5678 Fax: 360/428-1844