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Press Releases

Save Our Wild Salmon

obama.opportunityPORTLAND, Ore., August 11th, 2009 — Today a broad coalition of businesses, clean energy advocates, and fishing and conservation groups filed for a status conference with District Court Judge James Redden, who is presiding over the case against a 2008 Bush administration salmon plan. Groups are joined by the State of Oregon and the Nez Perce Tribe of Idaho.
 
This filing comes on the heels of Monday’s news that Judge Redden had granted the Obama administration’s request for a third extension of its review period for the 2008 Bush administration Columbia and Snake river salmon plan. The groups also released information indicating that the Obama administration appears headed toward adopting the Bush plan, which has been criticized by scientists and the courts, and runs counter to the advice of Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), more than 70 members of Congress, three former Northwest governors, and more than 200 businesses and 110 scientists from across the nation.
 
Obama administration receives misleading information, reports, and guidance from Bonneville Power Administration and other federal agencies
In recent presentations to the Obama administration, and in an effort to lobby the administration to adopt the Bush salmon plan, Bonneville Power Administration regional officials and other regional agency executives provided misleading information regarding alternatives to the Bush administration salmon plan for the Columbia & Snake Rivers. More on the BPA, the Power Council, and the Freedom of Information.
FOIA Request Overview
 
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Media regarding Columbia Basin salmon and correspondence to Obama Administration:
 
Regional and National Editorials
New York Times Editorial - July 4th: 10 years, 430 dams
Boston Globe Editorial - August 10th: Salmon: A dam shame
Buffalo Editorial - August 10th: Bust the dams, save the salmon
Eugene Register Guard - August 10th: Prepare for dam removal
Opinion Editorials
Oregonian: Dam decision poses test for Obama team, by Charles Wilkinson, PhD.
Idaho Statesman: One blogger's unsolicited salmon advice for Obama, by Kevin Richert, Editorial Page Editor for the Statesman.
Los Angeles Times: Saving the Columbia and Snake river salmon, by Paul VanDevelder.
Oregonian: A workable salmon policy for the Northwest, by Cecil Andrus, Former Sec. of Interior and Governor of Idaho
Letters to Obama Administration and Congress
Scientists Letter to Secretary Locke - Over 100 scientists urge Commerce Secretary Locke to reconsider the seriously flawed salmon recovery plan for the Columbia and Snake rivers.
Former Northwest governors letter -  Gov. John Kitzhaber, MD (OR), Gov. Cecil D. Andrus (ID) and Gov. Mike Lowry (WA)
Recreational fishing industry letter to President Obama - signed by over 90 businesses nationwide.
American Fisheries Society letter - Western Division's letter to NOAA Administrator Dr. Jane Lubchenco
Outdoor retailer / fishing industry letter to Members of Congress - signed by over 100 businesses nationwide.
 
Related Articles
July 31st, 2009: Rep. Jim McDermott (D-WA) and Rep. Tom Petri (R-WI), joined by 23 additional co-sponsors from across the nation, introduced the Salmon Solutions and Planning Act (SSPA) in the House of Representatives. Shortly after introduction, Congressman Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), one of the original cosponsors, issued a statement regarding the bill for public record.
May 18th, 2009: Judge James Redden issues a strongly worded guidance letter to NOAA Fisheries and the federal action agencies regarding the 2008 Biological Opinion for Columbia Basin salmon and steelhead. Read Judge Redden’s Letter.
 
May 4th, 2009: High Country News: Salmon Salvation by Ken Olsen. Will a new political order finally be enough to bring the dams down? Read more.
 
March 27th, 2009: Over 70 members of Congress send a letter to President Obama asking him to consider all scientifically credible and economically viable options for Columbia and Snake River salmon recovery, including a look at removing the four lower Snake River dams.  Read the letter from Congress.
 
March 9th, 2009: Over 80 commercial and recreational fishing associations and conservation organizations called on President Obama to create a high-level Salmon Director position in the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) to restore West Coast salmon populations, protect fishing jobs and rebuild the salmon economy.  Read more.
 

 
 
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