Democratic Washington U.S. Reps. Norm Dicks and Brian Baird and Oregon Republican Rep. Greg Walden this week announced they will host a series of official meetings throughout the Northwest to gather information on the survival of returning adult salmon and steelhead populations.

The "Congressional Meetings on the Survival of Returning Adult Salmon and Steelhead" will bring together various stakeholders and interested parties from both the public and private sectors.

The first two meetings will be held next week in Vancouver and Tacoma, Wash.; a third meeting is slated for Pendleton, Ore., but has not yet been scheduled.

Witnesses for the meetings will be by invitation only, however the public is encouraged to attend and may submit written testimony to the congressmen. Details for the two upcoming hearings are as follows:   

The Columbia River meeting will be Tuesday, October 11, 9:30 a.m. to 1:40 p.m. at the Water Resources Education Center, 4600 SE Columbia Way; Vancouver, Wash.

The Puget Sound meeting will be Wednesday, October 12, 9:30 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. at the University of Washington-Tacoma Campus - Carwien Auditorium (Room 102 in the Keystone Building)