PORTLAND, Ore. — The Obama administration is set to announce how it plans to operate hydroelectric dams in the Columbia River Basin and at the same offer better protection to endangered salmon and other species whose numbers are dwindling in part because of the dams.

During the Bush administration a federal judge in Portland rejected two plans for balancing the needs of utility customers and fish threatened by dams on the Columbia and Snake rivers. The judge said those plans did too little to help fish that are protected by the Endangered Species Act.

On Tuesday, the Obama administration is expected to send its own plan to U.S. District Judge James Redden. The plan had been expected this spring but the Obama administration requested more time.