Speak out for our endangered fish and rivers! It's time to 'Free the Snake'!

Federal agencies in the Northwest charged with protecting endangered wild salmon and steelhead from the lethal impacts of federal dams in the Columbia and Snake rivers are holding fifteen Public Scoping Hearings this fall in Washington State, Oregon, Idaho and Montana.

These Scoping Hearings represent the first phase of a court-ordered review under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of salmon restoration alternatives in the Columbia and Snake Rivers. This spring, the U.S. District Court in Portland, OR issued a strongly-worded opinion that found the agencies’ latest plan inadequate and illegal - in violation of both the ESA and NEPA.

This is the 5th plan to be invalidated by 3 judges across twenty years. The next plan – and this NEPA Review – is the public’s opportunity to get involved and ensure that the federal agencies get it right this time! Our salmon (and orcas), our rivers, and our pocketbooks can’t afford another failed and illegal plan. Get involved today!

Salmon, orca, fishing, boating, river and taxpayer advocates need to seize this critical opportunity to speak up for restoring wild salmon and steelhead and river health by advocating for a lawful, science-based, fiscally-responsible plan that includes the removal of the four costly dams on the lower Snake River.

You can review the feds' calendar below and get ready to attend the hearing nearest you.

TO LEARN MORE AND GET INVOLVED this fall, contact joseph@wildsalmon.org and/or sam@wildsalmon.org

Follow the links below to take action online (but it's still very important that you show up for the public hearings too!) and learn more about our endangered wild salmon and steelhead in the Columbia and Snake rivers.

-- TAKE ACTION ONLINE here.

-- Full NEPA Scoping Hearing Schedule posted below.

-- Sept. 30 press releases re: Scoping Hearings from Earthjustice, Idaho's conservation and fishing advocates, and the Nez Perce Tribe.

-- Background and media coverage of the May 4, 2016 Simon Court Ruling.

-- Factsheet: A Restored Snake River - Our nation's best opportunity to restore salmon, save money and confront a changing climate

-- Factsheet: Removing the Lower Snake Dams - Why it's different today

-- Earthjustice Explainer: What you need to know about Columbia and Snake River salmon

-- Spokesman Review: Feds Ask the Public to Weigh in on Breaching the Lower Snake River Dams (Sept. 30)

Fall 2016 NEPA SCOPING SCHEDULE FOR COLUMBIA AND SNAKE RIVER WILD SALMON AND STEELHEAD:

Monday, October 24, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., Wenatchee Community Center, 504 S. Chelan Ave., Wenatchee, Washington
Tuesday, October 25, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., The Town of Coulee Dam, City Hall,  3006 Lincoln Ave., Coulee Dam, Washington
Wednesday, October 26, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., Priest River Community Center, 5399 Highway 2, Priest River, Idaho
Thursday, October 27, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., Kootenai River Inn Casino & Spa, 7169 Plaza St., Bonners Ferry, Idaho
Tuesday, November 1, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., Red Lion Hotel Kalispell, 20 North Main St., Kalispell, Montana
Wednesday, November 2, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., City of Libby City Hall, 952 E. Spruce St., Libby, Montana
Thursday, November 3, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., Hilton Garden Inn Missoula, 3720 N. Reserve St. Missoula, Montana
Monday November 14, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. The Historic Davenport Hotel, 10 South Post Street, Spokane, Washington
Wednesday, November 16, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., Red Lion Hotel Lewiston, Seaport Room, 621 21st St. Lewiston, Idaho
Thursday, November 17, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Courtyard Walla Walla, The Blues Room, 550 West Rose St. Walla Walla, Washington
Tuesday, November 29, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., The Grove Hotel, 245 S. Capitol Blvd. Boise, Idaho
Thursday, December 1, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Town Hall, Great Room, 1119 8th Ave., Seattle, Washington
Tuesday, December 6, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., The Columbia Gorge Discovery Center, River Gallery Room, 5000 Discovery Drive, The Dalles, Oregon
Wednesday, December 7, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., Oregon Convention Center, 777 NE Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Portland, Oregon
Thursday, December 8, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., The Loft at the Red Building, 20 Basin St., Astoria, Oregon.
Tuesday, December 13, 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., and 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., PST, webinar

Link to the Federal Register Office - Northwest Agencies' Notice of Intent