This summer we saw a series of significant steps forward in the fight to save the struggling Columbia-Snake Basin salmon populations. The Biden Administration committed to the “development of a durable long-term strategy to restore salmon and other native fish populations to healthy and abundant levels.” NOAA/NMFS released a report on the science of recovering abundant, harvestable stocks of endangered salmon and steelhead, identifying restoration of a free-flowing lower Snake as “essential” and a “centerpiece action.” More locally, Washington Governor Jay Inslee and WA Senator Patty Murray released recommendations for salmon recovery and a report indicating that replacing the services provided by the Snake River dams is both feasible and affordable.
HOWEVER, in the face of all this progress the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) – a power marketing agency that is part of the U.S. Department of Energy – is throwing up roadblocks. BPA leadership asserts that restoration of a free-flowing lower Snake River is not possible for decades. These salmon runs do not have decades! BPA also fails to invest in clean energy, demand response, and transmission and grid enhancements that would facilitate replacing the dam services.
Advocates for solutions that work for salmon and orcas, Tribes, utilities, farmers, and anglers are telling USDOE Secretary Jennifer Granholm, in the strongest terms, to ensure BPA aligns with the rest of the Biden Administration, Northwest Members of Congress, Governor Inslee, and community stakeholders on Snake River restoration.
Please TAKE ACTION! Visit the Save Our Wild Salmon action page to send a message to the Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm urging her to encourage the BPA to get on board with Biden Administration’s commitments to save the Columbia-Snake salmon runs.
