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Restoring the Lower Snake River

ACT TODAY: Complete the SNAKE RIVER SURVEY! Support leadership by Sen. Murray and Gov. Inslee!

Last fall, Sen. Murray and Gov. Inslee committed to develop and deliver a comprehensive solution to protect and recover Snake River salmon and invest in the region's communities by July 31, 2022.

More recently in February, they posted an online survey and invited people to share their thoughts about Snake River dam removal and salmon recovery. This survey is one part of the Murray/Inslee Snake River Initiative to determine how to restore endangered salmon as they consider removing the four Snake River dams and replacing their services with alternatives.

COMPLETE THIS SURVEY TODAY – AND ENCOURAGE YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY TO DO THE SAME! With your help, we can show strong public support for the leadership by Sen. Murray and Gov. Inslee and their commitment to develop a comprehensive plan by July 2022 to protect/restore wild salmon and steelhead that includes lower Snake River dam removal. It is important to encourage engagement from as many different people and perspectives as possible. 

Sen. Murray and Gov. Inslee have said they will announce their findings with an actionable plan by July 31, 2022. In mid-May, they will issue a draft report about how the services provided by the dams can be replaced. That will be followed by a public input process in mid-May through mid-June. It is important to engage with their initiative at every opportunity possible. 

Their decision in July will determine whether Snake River salmon will go extinct or recover.

ABOUT THE SURVEY:

- Anyone can fill out the survey; it is not limited to Washington residents. 

- You do not need to answer all the questions. At a minimum, fill out questions #2 and #9. You can hit “NEXT” to skip a question.

QUESTION #2 ("What is your primary interest?") allows people an opportunity to share why they - YOU - care about the issue.  

QUESTION #9 ("Other issues?") presents an important opportunity to talk about helping orca and other species that will benefit from restoring salmon and steelhead populations.  It’s also a chance to mention the urgency - how salmon are facing an extinction crisis, how our region needs justice for tribes, and how this is an opportunity for smart investments that help all Northwest people and communities.

At a minimum, complete Questions #2 and #9: These are the two most important survey questions.

For more information about the Murray/Inslee Snake River Salmon Initiative: www.LSRDoptions.org


SUMMARY OF SURVEY QUESTIONS AND SAMPLE RESPONSES:

QUESTION 1 - Select the box that best represents your affiliation.  Check concerned citizens - for most people.  You then fill in your zip code in a box for geographic location.

QUESTION 2 - What is your primary interest regarding the lower Snake River dams?  [This is the opportunity to say why you care about this issue.  Please fill it out with your interest and why this issue is important to you!]

Q2 Sample messages: Prevent salmon extinction; help starving orca; honor treaty rights and our promises to Native American people/social justice; the importance of salmon to our NW heritage; important for sport, commercial, and tribal fishing communities and our economy; ensuring a bright future for our region; want solutions that work for fishermen and for farmers, for tribes and utilities.

QUESTION 3 - Irrigated Agriculture: What benefits need to be replaced if the dams are breached? What actions could provide similar or greater benefits?

Q3 Sample messages: As a result of dam removal, some pumps and wells won't be able to provide the water that the reservoirs did.  Actions that address this are to adjust the pumps (longer intakes and more lift) so they will operate at river level and drill wells deeper as needed.

Question 4 - Navigation and transportation: What current benefits need to be addressed if the dams are breached? What actions could provide similar or greater benefits?  

Q4 Sample messages: Barging of grain on the Snake River would end with dam removal, as would substantial public subsidies that support current barge transportation. Actions that address this are investing in expanding railroad service, upgrading roads, and modernizing port facilities to handle rail and truck loading/unloading. With a focus on developing electric rail and truck transport, these investments can help reduce total greenhouse gas emissions from moving agricultural products to market.

Question 5 - Energy: What energy services need to be addressed if the dams are breached? What actions could provide similar or greater benefits?

Q5 Sample messages: There is a modest amount of power produced from the dams that would need to be replaced and the dams provide some other energy services.  Climate change is already affecting snowpacks and making hydropower less reliable during late summer and winter when it's most needed.  Actions to take—We can replace the lost power of the dams with clean energy from wind, solar, batteries, and energy efficiency. The NW has abundant renewable power that is already cost-effective and just gets cheaper. These investments will produce a clean, reliable, affordable, and more modern energy system

Question 6 - Tourism and Recreation: What benefits need to be replaced if the dams are breached?  What actions could provide similar or greater benefits? 

Q6 Sample messages: There are already abundant slack water recreation opportunities in the Columbia Basin from lakes and other reservoirs. Some campgrounds would be lost from around the reservoirs. Dam removal would make for more diverse and better recreation and tourism because it will restore 140 miles of a free-flowing river and will have more salmon and steelhead. Rafting, kayaking, fishing, and other river-based activities would increase. Guided trips would be in demand. Overall diversity of recreation would grow and benefit.

Question 7 - Community Well Being (environmental, social, & economic resources): What benefits need to be replaced if dams are breached? What actions could provide similar or greater benefits?

Sample messages: There are a modest number of jobs associated with dams, ports, and barges, but they're important to those who hold them; generous retraining and placement programs will be needed and obligatory. Environmental damage has occurred from wrecking a river with the dams. Climate change is overheating the water in stagnant reservoirs killing salmon and steelhead. Breaching the dams would restore salmon, honor our commitments to the tribes, and help reduce temperature impacts.

Question 8 - Economic Prosperity: What benefits need to be addressed if the dams are breached? What actions would provide similar or greater benefits?

Q8 Sample messages: The previous impacts to irrigation, navigation, energy can all be successfully replaced and provide a more modern and effective system in their place. A restored river and salmon and steelhead runs will increase economic opportunity for sport, commercial and tribal fishing communities from central Idaho to the coasts of Washington and Oregon. Restoring the river provides overall economic and environmental benefits to the region.

Question 9 - Other: This is an important opportunity to talk about helping orca and other species that will benefit from restoring salmon and steelhead populations. It is also a chance to mention the urgency for salmon that are facing an extinction crisis, the injustice to tribes and to their way of life that a dammed river has imposed, and the opportunity to address impacts with smart investments and planning and to build a better future for all together. 

 

Have any questions about the survey or this moment of opportunity? Reach out to carrie@wildsalmon.org

 

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