This September, ICL staff flew to our nation’s capitol with a group of advocates from the newly restructured Columbia Snake River Campaign to show unity in our push for a restored lower Snake River. The campaign—a coalition of people, businesses, and organizations led by local tribes—brought together a group of advocates including non-profit staff, river guides, outdoor businesses, youth advocates, and Tribal members for a series of meetings with key leaders in D.C. In three days, our group met with 30 offices including members of Congress and Agency staff, to emphasize the need for urgent action.
The health of Columbia and Snake River Basin salmon and steelhead is the overarching reason for this visit to DC. These species have been and continue to be on the brink of extinction, largely due to the conditions created by the lower Snake River dams. As reported by the Nez Perce Tribe, if current trends continue, nearly 60% of the Snake River Basin stocks could hit a quasi-extinction threshold by 2028. This quasi-extinction threshold means 50 or fewer natural-origin spawners return to the spawning grounds for 4 consecutive years and signifies that adult salmon abundance in a population is nearing absolute extinction, and the probability of recovery is low without substantial intervention. Our job was not only to communicate this stark reality with key decision-makers but to help guide them through the avenues available to recover salmon and steelhead while replacing the services currently provided by these dams.
With a complex issue that touches on so many pieces of infrastructure, livelihood, and culture, the Campaign emphasized tangible upcoming solutions that are essential for supporting the Northwest’s future. Though these subjects can seem tangential at times, these conversations are necessary to make sure all stakeholders are made whole while giving salmon populations still have time to recover. The issues discussed included:
- Need for Congress to uphold the Resilient Columbia Basin Agreement
- Concerns over Bonneville Power Administration’s upcoming energy market decision
- Support for the Department of Interior’s recent Tribal Circumstance Analysis
- Endangered Southern Resident Orca’s reliance on Columbia and Snake River Chinook Salmon
Most of the Campaign’s meetings were with members of Congress from the Northwest region or Biden Administration staff from relevant agencies. However, this group also took the time to meet with out-of-region members of Congress to educate them on this issue and ask for their continued support for Snake River salmon and steelhead. These meetings included Minority Leader Rep. Jeffries (NY – D) and representatives from other states that care about wild rivers including New Mexico and Alaska. Removal of the four lower Snake River dams is one of the nation’s most important conservation issues and it’s going to take an act of Congress to become reality. This coalition is laying the groundwork to keep momentum moving forward with champions from across the country.
This trip also provided an opportunity for coalition members to spend time together in person to strategize, relax, and get to know each other better. The group gathered for a screening of Covenant of the Salmon People at the Patagonia store in Alexandria, shared large family-style meals, and enjoyed a local WNBA game together. As a group that is dedicated to an issue that has taken decades to advance this far, this time together, connecting in person, is vital as we all return to our Zoom boxes and continue to dedicate our work, our lives, and all our gray hairs to seeing a free-flowing lower Snake River.
Thank you to all of ICL’s new and returning members who donated during our September member drive. Our work – in Idaho, Seattle, and DC – would not be possible without your support.