June HogEvery June we are reminded of the famed “June hogs” – giant chinook salmon that once migrated back through the Columbia Basin at about this time of the year.  We will likely never see those runs again, but there’s still plenty of recovery to be had in one of our planet’s best salmon watersheds. In this edition: 1. Salmon and steelhead are under attack from Doc Hastings. 2. WE DID IT! - thank you for helping us reach our goal. 3. Maine's Great Works and the Columbia-Snake Opportunity. 4. VICTORY: Highway to Hell defeated. 1. Salmon and steelhead are under attack from Doc Hastings. Congressman Doc Hastings is continuing his attacks on wild salmon and the jobs and communities that depend on them. In his latest volley, Hastings is calling for a “rewrite” of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) to weaken protections and citizen overview of government actions to protect endangered species. Thank you for taking action: please forward this link to your friends and family or share it on Facebook: http://sows.convio.net/murray_cantwell

“When it comes to wild salmon, protecting and implementing the Endangered Species Act is about more than saving fish; it's about saving jobs and livelihoods in our communities as well. Literally thousands of businesses and tens of thousands of jobs are supported by salmon and steelhead in the West,” said Jeff Hickman, owner of Fish the Swing Guiding Service from Eagle Creek, Oregon. Hickman joined 20 other Northwest business leaders in sending a letter to Congressman Hastings last December in support of the ESA, jobs, and salmon. 

2. WE DID IT! – Thank you for helping us reach our goal.

thermometer.finalAll of us at the Save Our Wild Salmon Coalition express our deepest gratitude to our supporters, partners and allies across the country for helping us reach our 20th anniversary fundraising goal of $50,000.  Thanks to your efforts we exceeded our goal, coming in just under $56,000. In addition to all of our individual donors, this success would not have been possible without the support of the following coalition partners and business allies: American Rivers – Association of Northwest Steelheaders – Boulder-White Clouds Council – Earthjustice – Granite Gear – Idaho River Adventures – Idaho Rivers United – Idaho Salmon and Steelhead United – Institute for Fisheries Resources – ioby – Jensen's Smokehouse – KEEN – Klean Kanteen – The Lands Council – Light & Motion – Mountain Khakis – Northwest Guides and Anglers Association – NW Energy Coalition – Osprey Packs – Patagonia – Petzl – Saviah Cellars – Sierra Club – Tactics – Trout Unlimited – Washington Trollers Association Grand Prize Raffle Winners! - Congratulations to the follow SOS supporters: Beth Milliken from Saint Helena, CA – Beth won a Granite Gear - Nimbus Trace 62L multi-day backpack and a Petzl - Tikka 2 plus headlamp Michael Rossotto from Seattle, WA – Michael won 2 lbs. of wild-caught smoked salmon from Jensen's Smokehouse and a magnum of Big Sky Cuvee from Walla Walla, WA vinters at Saviah. Craig Mankowski from Naperville, IL – Craig won an Osprey Packs - Momentum 26 bike commuter pack and Light & Motion - Urban 180 bike light. Thank you again for your generosity and support as we celebrate our 20th year uniting people for salmon, rivers, and jobs.


3. Maine's Great Works and the Columbia-Snake Opportunity

Penobscot RiverThis month, we have another region of the country helping set the bar for solutions to protect salmon, restore rivers, and create jobs: New England’s Penobscot River Watershed. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar called the Penobscot River Restoration Project a “milestone”, stating, “Through a historic partnership that exemplifies President Obama’s America’s Great Outdoors initiative, we are reconnecting 1,000 miles of river, restoring vital habitat for fish and wildlife, expanding opportunities for outdoor recreation, and supporting energy production, jobs and economic growth in communities throughout Maine.” Read more on the SOS Blog.

4. VICTORY: Highway to Hell defeated.

logging.truckFrom the desk of Pat Ford The threat from Exxon to the lower Snake River and Idaho/Montana Highway 12 is over, at least for now. Last week, Imperial Oil, owned by Exxon, withdrew its application to the Montana Department of Transportation to transport massive tar sands machinery through Montana on Highway 12 and other roads. Read more about this victory on the SOS Blog.

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