NOAA

NOAA is a government agency and stands for National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. A controversy started brewing in April of 2010 because the agency came up with a fisheries plan that decided to rely on barges instead of dams in order to help salmon migrate through the Snake River. Some scientists are upset about this decision because dams are a better option for generating electricity.http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2011587660_aporsalmondams.html

The NOAA was founded in 1807 in the form of some of America's first science agencies, which included the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey, the Weather Bureau, and the Bureau of Commercial Fisheries. These organizations were all formed at different times, but all lead up to the beginning of the NOAA in 1970.http://www.history.noaa.gov/noaa.htmlThe NOAA is now running out of Washington D.C. with Jonathan Eigen residing as the current CFO.http://www.linkedin.com/companies/noaaJane Lubchenco is the head of the department.http://www.mahalo.com/jane-lubchenco

The company defines itself as an informed society that uses a comprehensive understanding of the role of the oceans, coasts, and atmosphere in the global ecosystem to make the best social and economic decisions.http://www.economics.noaa.gov/?file=aboutIt deals with weather reports, fishery management, coastal restoration and marine commerce.http://www.noaa.gov/about-noaa.html

The Snake River is located in Eastern Washington. NOAA's fisheries plan for this river is to use exclusively barges in order to spill water for the baby salmon trying to migrate in the Spring. According to government scientists, doing this will protect these fish from predators in the low-water years, and help develop bigger, stronger fish in other years.http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2010/04/dont_barge_into_court_over_spi.html

Grants Pass is an independent group of scientists. They do not agree with the Obama administration's decision to rely on barges instead of dams. Their opinions have reached others who have sued the NOAA for separate operations involving dams, and these people agree with Grants Pass.http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2011587660_aporsalmondams.html

NOAA is quite a diverse and active agency. To get an understanding of all that they accomplish read over this list of what they do on a day to day basis. These items have been taken from Oceanleadership.org. http://www.oceanleadership.org/programs-and-partnerships/friends-of-noaa/what-does-noaa-do/

1. NOAA works to rescue sailors stranded after their ship sank.
2. NOAA works to control invasive creatures and minimize the impact.
3. NOAA works to clean up oil and toxic chemicals as quickly as possible in order to reduce the damage caused to the ecosystem.
4. NOAA monitors red-tide, allowing officials to close the beaches.
5. NOAA manages forests and the spread of plant diseases in certain areas.
6. NOAA manages a Estuary Reserve and provides tours to local schools.
7. Port Managers consult NOAA on determining safe load amounts for container ships in certain areas.
8. NOAA helps farmers determine the irrigation scheme to use.
9. NOAA predicts tornadoes and alerts families to their approach.
10. NOAA helps developers decide where it is safe to build homes along coastal areas.
11. NOAA evaluates ways to remove old structures without damaging the aquatic wildlife.
12. NOAA helps to reroute ships in order to continue commerce in ports where there have been obstructions