Recently, Gov. Ferguson signed legislation raising fees for hunting and fishing licenses by nearly 40% and increasing the Discover Pass from $30 to $45. In a time of severe statewide budget deficits, revenue generation through Washington’s recreation economy is a reminder of the other recreation-based economic opportunities that we are missing out on throughout the state as a result of our nearly extinct salmon and steelhead populations and sick waterways, namely the lower Snake River.

In the U.S., the sports fishing industry generates $230.5 billion annually and supports 1.1 million jobs. In rural areas especially, spending on gear rentals, guide services and licenses can serve as a huge force of economic stimulus. Currently, however, many communities along the lower Snake are missing out. Many salmon and steelhead populations are too close to extinction to be fishable, and the river itself has been dammed into a series of too hot reservoirs – sometimes with toxic algal blooms – that most recreationists choose to avoid.

I urge our members of Congress to move us on a pathway toward healthy rivers, abundant salmon and thriving local economies through comprehensive solutions like the Columbia Basin Restoration Initiative. Let’s duplicate the Klamath, where salmon are already rebounding less than two years later, numerous rapids have been uncovered and recreation is ballooning. If we instead continue to allow salmon to go extinct, it would be a failure by the government to uphold its treaty obligations and prevent us from realizing a massive economic opportunity.

Chris Pinney

Walla Walla

Spokesman-Review: Investing in salmon would boost regional economy