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Idaho salmon and rivers are some of the most iconic and important gems in our state. We need Idahoans to continue to demand as we have for decades, for salmon recovery now more than ever. Our state and region is in a critical window to help lead the largest river restoration project in American history.
After more than 30 years of Endangered Species Act protections and recovery work, our wild salmon are still on the verge of extinction. In 2021, only four natural sockeye successfully returned to Redfish Lake in central Idaho. Scientists continue to stress that breaching the four Lower Snake River dams (LSRD) is the only effective recovery action we can take for salmon and steelhead populations.
In July of 2022, Sen. Patty Murray and Gov. Jay Inslee (WA) held a public comment period and then released their joint draft report. This report found that it is necessary and quite feasible to replace the Lower Snake River Dams as a means of recovering salmon runs and honoring the sovereign rights of tribes.
According to the draft report, if we invest up to $27 billion in LSRD removal and replacement services we can break the current expensive cycle of failed salmon recovery measures and populations headed towards extinction, which has cost the public $24 billion (adjusted for inflation) since 1980.
The White House and NOAA Fisheries also came out with two new reports this summer resulting from a continued interagency initiative to restore salmon and steelhead populations in the Columbia River Basin, while meeting state and Federal clean energy goals.
Snake River salmon runs are in dire need of decisive recovery action. LSRD removal is the only measure that would reverse long-term extinction trends and place populations on a trajectory towards healthy and harvestable numbers.
Write to our Idaho elected officials and tell them to collaborate with Northwest members of Congress on a river restoration plan, that includes removal of the LSRD, to recover wild salmon and steelhead.
Additionally, use your voice to support recovering wild salmon to healthy and harvestable abundance, restoring the sovereign rights of Tribes, and building a stable fishing economy for our rural communities.
TAKE ACTION NOW!
1. Use the form on this page to write to Idaho officials.
2. Contact Sen. Crapo's office here and Sen. Jim Risch here.
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Your voice matters. Grassroots advocacy works...
Please share this action item with your community, friends, and family, and encourage them to help spread the word. You can also call your elected officials and encourage them to support the Murray/Inslee draft report and Congressman Simpson's initiative. Together, we can help orchestrate the largest river restoration project in history.
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Sec. Granholm - act immediately to remove the four lower Snake River dams and replace the energy they provide with a diverse portfolio of clean energy alternatives.
Sen. Murray & Gov. Inslee - deliver an actionable plan by early August 2022 that removes the dams and replaces their services and honors the rights of tribes and Indigenous people who were promised abundant salmon by the United States in treaties.
[Sen.Cantwell/Sen. Wyden/ Sen. Merkley] - publicly engage with Sen. Murray to support and build on the plan to restore abundant salmon and honor the treaties with NW tribes.
Other NW Congressionals - publicly engage with Sen. Murray to support and build on the plan to restore abundant salmon and honor the treaties with NW tribes.
Please share this action with anyone else who might be interested in lending their voice.
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