[JURIST] US District Judge James A. Redden ruled Thursday that the Bush administration distorted information to downplay the harm that 14 federal dams cause to the endangered salmon and steelhead of the Columbia and Snake rivers, neglecting its duty to protect the species. The ruling means that the issue will be sent back to the National Marine Fisheries Service [official website] for the third time for reevaluation of the potential harm to fish caused by the dams. Environmental groups such as the National Wildlife Federation [advocacy website] applauded the decision [NWF press release] as stopping the government from ignoring their obligations under the Endangered Species Act. The New York Times has more.