SOS Blog

Join us in celebrating the latest project from our partners at Braided River Publishing – Big River: Resilience and Renewal in the Columbia Basin. This new, breathtaking book includes work by photographer David Moskowitz, writer Eileen Delehanty Pearkes, and poet Claudia Castro Luna.

The Columbia River Basin spans 1,200 miles through seven states and one Canadian province, all of which include the ancestral lands of many Indigenous Nations. The Columbia River Basin watershed encompasses immense ecological, cultural, and economic value, the benefits of which its inhabitants have both stewarded and wrangled over for centuries. As we come to terms with the unsustainable nature of our relationship with this watershed today, and local Indigenous nations renew their efforts to steward their traditional territories, we have reached an inflection point.

Big River, a new photographically-driven book from award-winning photographer David Moskowitz, writer Eileen Delehanty Pearkes, and poet Claudia Castro Luna, illuminates the hydrogeology, beauty, and activity of the Columbia River, while also highlighting current challenges facing the region and the riverkeepers working on sustainable solutions. Through rich and comprehensive images of the land, river, and people and micro-interviews from diverse voices across the region, Big River explores the Columbia River Basin as a single living, interdependent entity.

The book is a culmination of Moskowitz’s many years of photographing the river and exploring its watershed and Eileen’s decades of research and exploration. Big River seeks a path forward for the Columbia River watershed, balancing the demands around water, salmon, agriculture, energy, and climate with the fundamental need for a sustainable living river.

Big River will be released on June 1, 2024, followed by a book tour around the Pacific Northwest region (see below).

Book Supporters: 
Port Gamble Sklallam Tribe, Squaxin Island Tribe, Muckleshoot Indian Tribe, Tulalip Tribe, Wildsight, Save Our wild Salmon Coalition, Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative, ArtsFund, The Pendleton and Elisabeth Carey Miller Charitable Foundation, and The Hugh and Jane Ferguson Foundation

Photography by David Moskowitz

Events

Join SOS at book release events throughout June to experience a multimedia journey along the Columbia River from source to sea with photographer David Moskowitz, author Eileen Delehanty Pearkes, tribal members, and other people from across the region as part of the launch of the new book, Big River: Resilience and Renewal in the Columbia Basin.

Efforts around restoring fish passage throughout the watershed, upholding Tribal sovereignty, renegotiating the Columbia River Treaty, developing new sustainable energy projects, and addressing climate change, agricultural sustainability, and irrigation are dynamic and ongoing. We hope that Big River’s stunning imagery and diverse perspectives can galvanize these important conversations, and help to advance our collective work towards more just collaborative and durable solutions for all.

Events will feature author talks, panel discussions, and other activities that explore the issues facing the Columbia River and the importance of protecting the river, its salmon, and people.

Attend a book release event near you!

• June 1 — Nelson, BC 
• June 4 — Olympia, WA
• June 5 — Seattle, WA
• June 17 — Astoria, OR
• June 18 — Portland, OR
• June 19 — The Dalles, OR
• June 20 — Richland, WA

ALL BIG RIVER EVENTS

Photography by David Moskowitz

About the Authors of Big River

David Moskowitz, photographer, author, wildlife biologist, and tracker, is the author of Caribou Rainforest, Wildlife of the Pacific Northwest, and Wolves in the Land of Salmon, and coauthor of Peterson’s Field Guide to North American Bird Nests. His work has been featured in the New York Times, Sierra, High Country News, and Audubon Magazine, as well as by organizations such as the National Wildlife Federation, Endangered Species Coalition, and Nature Conservancy of Canada. www.davidmoskowitz.net

Eileen Delehanty Pearkes explores landscape, history, and the human imagination through writing, maps, and visual notebooks, focusing on Indigenous culture and the power of water. She has researched the international Columbia River basin for more than two decades. Pearkes is the author of The Geography of Memory, A River Captured: The Columbia River and Catastrophic Change, and The Heart of a River. www.edpearkes.com

Claudia Castro Luna served as Washington State Poet Laureate for several years. She is the author of Cipota Under the Moon, One River, A Thousand Voices, and There’s a Revolution Outside, My Love, among others. Born in El Salvador, Castro Luna arrived in the US in 1981. Living in English and Spanish, she teaches and writes in Seattle. www.claudiacastroluna.com

About the Publisher of Big River

Big River is published under the Braided River imprint of Mountaineers Books, which publishes photo-driven conservation books that are the foundation for creative communication campaigns with tangible public policy goals. Braided River defends wild places by bringing evocative and inspirational images and stories to an ever-growing audience of environmental protectors. www.braidedriver.org 

NextGen Salmon Collective’s new logo was designed by NWAAE artist Jillian Kelly

Are you interested in getting involved with Snake River advocacy? Know a student who is a budding activist? Share this opportunity with them!

Salmon, as an ecological and cultural keystone species, play a crucial role in maintaining the health and integrity of ecosystems across the world. In the Columbia River Basin, due to scores of dams, hot, stagnant water puts salmon populations on the brink of extinction. Youth leadership in salmon advocacy is vital for the restoration of this cherished species and is imperative to foster a sense of environmental stewardship among future generations.

To help empower the next generation of salmon advocates, Save Our wild Salmon is launching the NextGen Salmon Collective! By providing education, leadership training, mentorship, and opportunities for action, we aim to equip emerging activists with the skills and passion needed to make a meaningful impact on salmon conservation efforts.

Why NextGen Salmon Collective?

• Empower young leaders with the knowledge, skills, and resources necessary to advocate for Columbia River Basin salmon recovery.
• Foster collaboration and networking among youth leaders and conservation organizations.
• Implement community-based initiatives to protect and restore healthy and abundant Snake River salmon.
• Raise awareness about Snake River restoration through outreach, education campaigns, and advocacy efforts.

As part of the NextGen Salmon Collective, Save Our wild Salmon is offering three summer internship positions! This team-based, structured internship will allow a highly passionate and creative student to educate and mobilize their peers on the importance of Columbia-Snake River restoration. Interns will assist with developing strong connections and collaboration with other youth organizers across the region.

Apply by May 17^th

Empowering youth to become leaders in salmon advocacy is essential for the restoration and protection of this iconic species and the ecosystems they inhabit. The next generation of environmental stewards is among us, and we hope they choose to safeguard the future of Columbia River Basin salmon and all the species that depend on them.

Click here for more information on the internship. If you have any questions, reach out to Abby Dalke, Outreach Coordinator, at abby@wildsalmon.org. 

As the new year gets going, we are now entering a critical new phase in the campaign to restore a free-flowing lower Snake River and its endangered wild salmon and steelhead. As you may recall, after lengthy negotiations between the 'Six Sovereigns' (Umatilla, Warm Springs, Yakima, and Nez Perce Tribes; and the states of Washington and Oregon) and the federal government, the Biden Administration released on Dec. 14 a road-map to recover Columbia Basin fish that includes next steps to remove the lower Snake River dams and replace their services.

This plan prioritizes big investments in the Northwest’s economy, communities, and lands and waters to move everyone forward together. This historic agreement will direct hundreds of millions of dollars to modernize infrastructure and protect and restore native fish and their habitats in the Snake and Columbia rivers. Planning has already begun, with the goal of implementing key projects - including a set of Tribal-led projects - to replace the energy, irrigation and transportation services currently provided by the lower Snake River dams as quickly as possible.

This is a critical step forward and it is vital that together we begin to envision a Pacific Northwest with a restored, resilient, freely flowing lower Snake River, healthy fish populations and thriving communities.

In recognition of this historic pivot, we are excited to announce the return of the 'Snake River Dinner Hour' webinar series for 2024! The 'Snake River Dinner Hour' is a space for folks to come together and learn more about where we’ve come and what’s ahead, and participate in civil dialogue as we each bring different opinions and perspectives to the table. All are welcome!

Mark your calendars and join us from 6:00-7:00 pm PST on the second Tuesday of the month:

 Join the May 14 webinar on Zoom!

REGISTER TODAY

Snake River Dinner Hour is brought to you by American Rivers, Washington Conservation Action, Idaho Conservation League, Sierra Club, and Save Our wild Salmon.

Patagonia's Not Mars: Tools to Save Our Home Planet brought together Patagonia’s activist heroes to share lessons learned, practical tips and personal stories to turn your climate anxiety into climate action. Hosted by journalist Yessenia Funes, this special event inspired seasoned and newly curious activists with inspiring conversations from a diverse group of speakers, including community organizer Nikkita Oliver, author Bonnie Tsui, climate activist Jamie Henn and surfer and ocean advocate Greg Long. 

View the Not Mars: Tools to Save Our Home Planet, courtesy of Patagonia, photos by Andrew Burton. 

Patagonia’s activist heroes

Save Our wild Salmon tabling  

New federal commitments and investments were announced on December 14 by the White House, the States of Oregon and Washington and four Columbia Basin Tribes - marking an important step towards a comprehensive solution to restore healthy and abundant salmon populations, and essential to honoring Tribal Treaty obligations.

The agreement provides a multi-year pause in litigation to allow for the implementation of commitments, actions, and federal investments advancing the recovery of salmon, steelhead and other Native fish populations throughout the Columbia River Basin, including more than half a billion dollars in NEW federal funding to the region and additional resources for habitat restoration and fish passage infrastructure.

The federal commitments, actions, and investments identified respond directly to The Columbia Basin Restoration Initiative (CBRI), a groundbreaking and visionary joint proposal from the “Six Sovereigns” (the states of Washington and Oregon and the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Spring Reservation, and the Nez Perce Tribe).

The CBRI offers a comprehensive roadmap to rebuild imperiled native fish populations, honor Tribal treaty rights, and restore healthy ecosystems while supporting a robust Pacific Northwest economy.

The Federal investments and actions to restore the lower Snake River and replace and modernize irrigation, energy, and transportation infrastructure provide significant economic benefits to Tribes and communities throughout the Columbia and Snake River Basins, while addressing the impacts of climate change and the crisis facing salmon and orcas.

We are not at the finish line, but today’s announcement brings us much closer to a free-flowing Snake River, abundant salmon and steelhead, and a healthy ecosystem.

Save Our wild Salmon Coalition is deeply grateful for Tribal, State, Federal, and NGO partners' leadership in advancing a comprehensive solution, and securing important investments to begin to recover imperiled fish populations throughout the Columbia/Snake River Basin.

Urgent action, continued leadership, and strong support from policymakers across the Northwest is essential - to seize this historic opportunity, end the harmful status quo, and move forward a comprehensive plan and investments - benefiting the entire region and future generations.

Please join us in thanking the administration for these important steps forward, and urge your members of Congress to pledge their strong support and leadership to ensure we implement the actions necessary to recover Northwest salmon. 

Take Action

FURTHER INFORMATION:

Press Releases: 

• The White House: Biden-⁠Harris Administration Announces Ten-Year Partnership with Tribes & States to Restore Wild Salmon, Expand Clean Energy Production, Increase Resilience, and Provide Energy Stability in the Columbia River Basin
• Washington Governor Jay Inslee: Six Sovereigns and Biden Administration partner in historic fashion to find solutions that benefit salmon and the Pacific Northwest
• Oregon Governor Tina Kotek: Biden Administration Announces Historic Commitments with Six Sovereigns
• Washington Senator Patty Murray: Murray Statement on Columbia-Snake River System Agreement Between Federal Government and Six Sovereigns
• Rep. Adam Smith: Statement on Columbia River Basin Agreement
• Rep. Pramila Jayapal: Statement on the Columbia-Snake River System Agreement
• Earthjustice: U.S. Government Sets a Path to Breach the Four Lower Snake River Dams
• Save Our wild Salmon: Biden administration commits significant federal resources to rebuild Columbia Basin salmon, honor obligations to Tribes, and prepare for lower Snake River dam breaching
• American Rivers: Biden Administration Announcement Marks Historic Step In Salmon Recovery In The Columbia River Basin
• Columbia Riverkeeper: Important step toward removing the Lower Snake River dams, replacing their services, restoring abundant salmon, and honoring America’s promises to Tribes
• Idaho Conservation League: U.S. Government commits to restore salmon in Northwest and honor obligations to Tribes, sets path to breach four lower Snake River dams
• Idaho Rivers United: U.S. Government Sets a Path to Breach the four Lower Snake River dams, while honoring Tribes, and restoring salmon to the Northwest
• Idaho Wildlife Federation: New Course Set For Snake River Basin
• National Wildlife Federation: U.S. Government Sets New Course on Lower Snake River, Toward ‘Right Side of History’
• Sierra Club: White House Plan for Snake River a Victory for Tribes, Communities, and Wildlife
• Trout Unlimited: Biden Administration Agreement: Step Toward Comprehensive Solution for Columbia Basin Salmon and Energy Infrastructure
• Washington Conservation Action and Oregon League of Conservation Voters: Biden Admin Sets a Clear Path to Breach Four Lower Snake River dams

Court Documents: 

• Columbia Basin Restoration Initiative (PDF)
• Snake River Litigation Memorandum of Understanding (PDF)
• Litigation Stay (PDF)
• Federal commitments (PDF)

Factsheets and Resources:

• Biden-Harris Administration Factsheet: Biden-⁠Harris Administration Announces 10-Year Partnership with Tribes and States to Restore Wild Salmon, Expand Clean Energy Production, Increase Resilience, and Provide Energy Stability in the Columbia River Basin
• Earthjustice Factsheet: New federal commitments to fight salmon extinction in the Columbia River Basin 
• Earthjustice Explainer: The Government Just Took a Big Step Toward Breaching Salmon-Killing Dams 
• Earthjustice: A Long Fight to Restore Snake River Salmon: Timeline of selected events, court rulings, and more recent development 
• NRDC Blog: Six Sovereigns Achieve Pathway to Snake River Dam Retirement

MEDIA COVERAGE:

• AP News: Conservationists, tribes say deal with Biden administration is a road map to breach Snake River dams 
• E&E News: White House pledges $1B to restore Pacific Northwest salmon, steelhead 
• NPR: Tribes celebrate historic deal with White House that could save Pacific Northwest salmon 
• Tri-City Herald: ‘Historic’ Columbia River agreement called ‘roadmap’ to breaching Snake River dams
• Seattle Times: Biden administration promises $1 billion more for salmon, clean energy — but punts on Lower Snake River dam removal in major agreement 
• Lewiston Tribune: It’s official: Dam agreement announced
• Spokesman-Review: Biden administration puts off dam breach talks, partners with tribes to restore salmon habitats
• The Hill: White House orders studies of Snake River dam removal to restore salmon populations 
• Oregon Capital Chronicle: NW states, tribes reach ‘historic’ deal with feds over Columbia River Basin fish and dams 
• Capital Press: Biden administration, tribes: Dam breaching on table 'as soon as practical’ 
• Spokane Public Radio: Federal-state-tribal agreement aims to help salmon, leaves future of Snake River dams open
• Outdoor Life: Biden Takes Steps Toward Breaching Four Snake River Dams 
• Sierra Club Magazine: Biden Administration Supports Removal of Four Dams on the Snake River
• High Country News: Lower Snake River dams closer to coming down with new agreement
• Northwest Public Broadcasting: "Historic agreement seen as a harbinger to Snake River dam removal"
• Everett Herald - Comment: "Agreement restores hope for salmon of Snake River" By Brian Brooks, executive director of Idaho Wildlife Federation
• The Oregonian: Efforts of tribes pay off in historic agreement on Snake River dam removals
• The Spokesman-Review Op-Ed: Dan McDonald: Significant progress in the race against extinction
• Yakima Herald-Republic Guest Commentary: Columbia-Snake agreement charts the course to a clean-energy future by Nancy Hirsh, NW Energy Coalition 

View the following set of factsheets that debunk misinformation and myths associated with the removal of the four lower Snake River dams (LSRDs). These factsheets provide clarity on the following topics and use credible data and statements from experts in the relevant fields. Please share these factsheets broadly, including with your elected officials.

Questions? Contact Abby Dalke, abby@wildsalmon.org

TABLE OF CONTENTS:
1. Salmon Returns 
2. Transportation
3. Economics
4. Flood Control
5. Irrigation
6. Energy
7. Carbon Emissions

SALMON RETURNS: 

When proponents of the LSRDs discuss salmon returns, they do not accurately reflect the status of the 13 ESA-listed threatened or endangered populations on the brink of extinction and minimize the impacts of dams on salmon survival.

The salmon returns factsheet debunks myths regarding the true status of salmon recovery and the role that the LSRDs play in preventing populations from reaching healthy and harvestable levels. The factsheet illustrates that LSRD removal is critical for restoring salmon runs by connecting fish to prime salmon habitat in central Oregon and central Idaho.

Download Factsheet

TRANSPORTATION:

Advocates for the LSRDs often overstate the importance and use of barge transportation on the lower Snake River between Tri-Cities, WA and Lewiston, ID, and overlook the opportunities to create a more affordable, robust, modernized transportation system for important eastern and central Washington agricultural exports.

This factsheet debunks the myth that the LSRDs are needed for agricultural transportation. The factsheet clearly conveys that this is not true as barging has been in decline for the last two decades, and rail is already being widely utilized by farmers.

Download Factsheet

ECONOMICS:

Those who oppose the removal of the LSRDs often promote unfounded and exaggerated claims associated with the cost of dam breaching and dismiss the significant economic benefits of breaching the four lower Snake River dams.

This factsheet addresses myths about the true economic costs of continuing to maintain and operate the LSRDs. The factsheet demonstrates that the most cost-effective salmon recovery strategy is removing the LSRDs.

Download Factsheet

FLOOD CONTROL: 

Politicians often falsely claim that the four lower Snake River dams are needed for flood control. This factsheet debunks the common narrative that the LSRDs have flood control capacity.

Download Factsheet

IRRIGATION:

Advocates for the LSRDs often spread the false narrative that breaching the dams will significantly impact the region’s agriculture when we have clear data suggesting otherwise.

This factsheet addresses the myth that the LSRDs are extensively used for irrigation throughout the region by small farmers. The factsheet emphasizes that only one reservoir is actually used for irrigation and that nine prominent landowners manage nearly all of the irrigated land.

DOWNLOAD FACTSHEET

ENERGY: 

Defenders of the lower Snake River dams often use deceptive data to mislead the energy output of the four lower Snake River dams and often exaggerate the reliability and importance of the hydropower produced by the LSRDs.

View the following energy factsheet that debunks myths regarding the true output, reliability, and necessity of LSRD energy production. The factsheet highlights the seasonal energy generation of the LSRDs and emphasizes the diverse portfolio of new, affordable, and reliable clean energy sources that will replace the energy output of the lower Snake River dams.

Download Factsheet

CARBON EMISSIONS:

Proponents of the LSRDs often deny the carbon impacts of hydropower entirely. Yet, there is clear scientific evidence that hydropower is a significant contributor of harmful carbon dioxide and methane emissions.

The carbon emissions factsheet debunks the myth that hydropower is a carbon free energy source. The factsheet explains the carbon impacts of methane emissions created by hydropower reservoirs.

Download Factsheet

Download all factsheets

Questions? Contact Abby Dalke, abby@wildsalmon.org