Last May Senator Patty Murray and Governor Jay Inslee released a joint press statement about the future of Columbia Basin salmon and committing to lead a “formal, regional process" that is based on science and ensures that all voices in the region are considered. They also emphasized that “it is critical that this process takes all options into consideration, including the potential breaching of the lower four Snake River dams”

This announcement last May by Sen. Murray and Gov. Inslee was a critical step towards finally developing and delivering an urgent and comprehensive solution for endangered salmon and orcas, and Northwest communities. However, we have yet to see their plan, and time is running out! This year we've experienced record-breaking temperatures, dangerously hot rivers, and some of the worst adult salmon and steelhead returns to the Columbia and Snake rivers on record. We need Sen. Murray and Gov. Inslee to move much more quickly to develop a regional investment package that restores the lower Snake River through dam removal, upholds our nation’s promises to Northwest tribes, and invests in healthy communities and modernized infrastructure.

WE NEED YOUR HELP: Please contact Sen. Murray and Gov. Inslee today. Urge them to act quickly for the sake of Snake River salmon, Southern Resident orcas and our communities!

You can learn more from these recent media stories:

• Everett Herald Guest Opinion: Murray, Inslee should back removal of Snake’s dams (August 23)
• Seattle Times: Gov. Inslee, Washington state’s U.S. senators reject GOP congressman’s pitch on Lower Snake River dam removal (May 14)
• Register-Guard: We can have our salmon and eat it, too (September 2)

Act now: Tell Sen. Murray and Gov. Inslee: "Time is running out. We need a plan today to protect salmon and orcas from extinction and invest in our communities and infrastructure!"

PLEASE CALL AND WRITE: Contact Senator Murray and Governor Inslee via email today, letting them know you support the immediate release of their salmon plan, and that any realistic solution for salmon must support all river communities, tribes, and include the removal of the four lower Snake River dams.

Call Gov. Inslee's office today! 360-902-4111
And write him an old-fashioned letter!
The Honorable Jay Inslee
Office of the Governor
PO Box 40002
Olympia, WA 98504-0002

Not sure what to say? Feel free to use or adapt this script:

Hello. My name is [your name] and I am a [Washington State/other state] resident. I’m calling to urge [Senator Murray/Governor Inslee] to follow up on their May 14 commitment to act promptly to protect endangered salmon and steelhead from extinction. I support restoring the lower Snake River and ask you to move quickly to develop a plan that removes these dams and invests in Washington's communities.

In the four months since the May 14th announcement, salmon have suffocated in hot water temperatures, hundreds of businesses have been adversely affected, and another Southern Resident Orca is presumed dead. This is very important to me because [insert personal story about why salmon/orca matter to you.]

If we wait to act any longer, extinction will be our only option. I want to hear about Senator Murray / Governor Inslee’s plan to restore Snake River salmon and invest in our region’s abundance.

Thank you very much.