Thank you for publishing the “A bold blueprint for salmon restoration puts region on right course” on March 9. Your readers deserve the facts about this historic and significant path forward, (not the misleading and hyperbolic rhetoric perpetuated by Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, “Lower Snake River Dams vital to local economy,” Feb. 28).

Three years ago, Mike Simpson, a conservative congressman from Idaho, proposed a comprehensive solution to recover healthy salmon populations, restore a freely flowing lower Snake River and invest in our communities in a manner that brings everyone forward together. Rep. Simpson deserves high praise for his vision and leadership, initiating an essential policy conversation about the heart and soul of our Northwest home.

Our region’s tribes, elected officials and the Biden administration worked collaboratively with stakeholders to find the right path forward that prioritizes salmon and orca, healthy rivers, a more diversified energy system and a healthy economy.

Doing what it takes to restore salmon abundance in the Columbia Snake River Basin is essential for upholding our nation’s treaty promises to tribes and protect our special way of life here in the Northwest. Celebrating the significance of this landmark agreement is more than warranted, but it should not distract us for even a minute from the dire circumstances salmon face today. We need to remain vigilant and active and make sure the administration, and our Northwest governors and members of Congress urgently follow their good words with good deeds. Let’s do all we can to build on this historic agreement and do right by the tribes and current and future generations.

Tanya Riordan

Spokane Valley

Spokesman-Review: Letter to the Editor: 'Protect our special way of life' article link