(photo credit: Irene Vlach)
By Marc Sullivan and Irene Vlach
The Nez Perce Tribe and Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians convened an inspiring and well-attended Salmon and Orca Summit July 7-8th to continue to press for recovery of endangered salmon and orcas. Sierra Club staffer Alex Craven, Washington Chapter Vice Chair Marc Sullivan, and other activists greeted summit attendees with banners and inflatable orcas and salmon in an expression of solidarity and support. The first day of the Summit featured statements from leaders of every tribe in attendance, followed by a speech by Idaho Rep. Mike Simpson. Simpson’s bold, comprehensive proposal, released in February, to breach the four lower Snake dams and make big investments in the Northwest future has transformed the regional conversation about salmon, orcas and dams.
On the second day of the Summit attendees heard video statements from Oregon Gov. Kate Brown and Rep. Earl Blumenauer, reiterating their support for the framework offered by Rep. Simpson. Washington Gov. Jay Inslee appeared live online and told the delegates, “We should be committed to getting down to business to determine what can provide the services these dams provide, so we can define how to replace these services so we can build support in our communities for taking the next steps in the dam breaching discussion”. Sen. Murray’s state director read a supportive statement from the region’s senior senator.
The 57 members of the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest (ATNI) Indians tribes unanimously adopted a strong resolution calling for restoration of a free-flowing lower Snake River, echoed by a similar resolution from the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI); NCAI’s resolution called for a second summit to be held in Washington, D.C.. For a full report on the summit, read Seattle Times reporter Lynda Mapes’ article: "Historic summit of tribes across Pacific Northwest presses dam removal on Inslee, Biden, Congress."
On July 16th, Save Our Wild Salmon Coalition member EarthJustice filed a motion for injunctive relief in federal district court for Snake River salmon on behalf of 11 fishing and conservation groups including the Sierra Club, challenging the Trump administration salmon recovery plan. A similar request was also filed by the state of Oregon and the Nez Perce Tribe. The latest Federal government plan for the Snake and Columbia River dams fail salmon, tribes, orca and our communities. With the continued declines of wild salmon and steelhead and growing impact on water temperature from climate change urgent action is needed to help these imperiled runs. The motion calls for more spill (water over the dams) for a longer period of time and to draw down the reservoirs on the lower Snake and Columbia River to move the young fish migrating down river faster and in healthier condition.
To restore the Snake River and its once abundant salmon we need a comprehensive solution from Congress that supports salmon recovery, communities, and clean energy – and prioritizes the efforts of the Northwest Tribes as outlined in recent resolutions by the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) and Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians (ATNI).
So far, with the exception of Rep. Earl Blumenauer, the Oregon Congressional delegation has not engaged in this issue. Please contact your elected officials and ask them to support a comprehensive solution for Snake River Salmon that removes the four lower Snake River dams and makes investments to replace the services provided by the dams. This is a once in a lifetime and perhaps the last opportunity to save the Snake River salmon runs.
Senator Wyden: 202-224-5244; 503-326-7525
Senator Merkley: 202-224-3753; 503-326-7525
Switchboard Number for House Members: 202-225-3121