The federal district court in Portland, Oregon, has ruled that the US government's operation of four dams on the lower Snake River violates the Clean Water Act. The court ordered the US Army Corps of Engineers, that is responsible for the management of the dam, to protect the river's water quality while planning its operations. The court has asked the Army Corps to protect threatened and endangered salmon and steelhead in the river. "It was a clear error of judgement by the Corps not to address compliance with its legal obligations under the Clean Water Act,' stated the court. The court's direction came in response to a lawsuit filed by a coalition of eco groups.