ACT NOW: Help seize a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to protect steelhead from extinction, keep people fishing, and invest in our Northwest communities and economy!
Not long ago, more than a million wild steelhead would flood into the Snake and Columbia rivers to spawn before returning to the Pacific Ocean to do it all over again.
Not anymore.
Scientists are predicting this year’s return of wild Snake River steelhead will be among the lowest ever recorded. Unless we act quickly, one of nature’s recurring miracles in the Northwest will fade away for ever.
As a result of these devastating returns, fishing seasons are being curtailed and closed across the Snake and Columbia River Basin. Hundreds of businesses in scores of communities are paying the price.
Time is running out and we need urgent action - before steelhead, our livelihoods and our traditions go extinct forever.
Fortunately, earlier this year, Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson proposed a plan to invest big in the Northwest — to protect, restore and reconnect endangered fish populations and their habitats and to support agriculture, transportation, clean energy, and new, local jobs at the same time.
His groundbreaking proposal has launched a conversation about collaborative, regional solutions to restore the lower Snake River and its fish and invest billions of dollars into jobs, communities and infrastructure.
To seize this opportunity, we now need other public officials in the Northwest to step up as well.
Call and write your U.S. senators - in Washington State, Oregon and Idaho. Tell them we need bold, urgent leadership to protect Snake and Columbia river steelhead and salmon populations from extinction - and the businesses, communities and ways of life they support.
PLEASE ACT NOW:
CONTACT YOUR SENATORS IN WASHINGTON, OREGON AND IDAHO: "Time is running out. Now is the time to act!”
WRITE AND CALL:
Follow this link to send a pre-written, editable letter to our senators in Washington State, Oregon and Idaho.
SEND AN EMAIL TO YOUR SENATORS (in WA, OR, ID)
You can also pick up the phone and call your senators – let them know that we need their urgent leadership protect Snake and Columbia River steelhead from extinction, invest in our communities and economy, and preserve our region's special way of life.
WASHINGTON STATE:
Senator Patty Murray: (202) 224-2621 (D.C.)
Senator Maria Cantwell: (202) 224-3441 (D.C)
OREGON:
Senator Ron Wyden: (202) 224-5244 (D.C.)
Senator Jeff Merkley: (202) 224-3753 (D.C.)
IDAHO:
Senator Mike Crapo: (202) 224-6142 (D.C.)
Senator Jim Risch: (202) 224-2752 (D.C.)
Here are suggested message points:
- Introduce yourself and include where you live. Be polite and speak clearly.
- “I am calling to ask Senator _______ to use his/her leadership to work urgently with other public officials, Tribes and stakeholders to develop a comprehensive solution for the Columbia Basin's endangered steelhead and Northwest people and communities. I strongly support restoring the lower Snake River and its endangered native fish and investing in critical infrastructure to ensure more just and prosperous communities.”
- Share why steelhead/salmon/fishing/healthy rivers are important to you, your family, and your community.
- Emphasize the need for bold and urgent action this year, and how Snake River steelhead - and the jobs, businesses and communities and cultures they support - face extinction today.
KIVI TV: Steelhead bag limit reduced to one, conservationists say change needs to happen now (Sept. 5, 2021)
Field and Stream: Dismal Runs Force Oregon and Washington to Close World-Famous Steelhead Fisheries
Managers turn to emergency closures on the Snake, Deschutes, and John Day Rivers in hopes of saving wild steelhead (Ken Perrotte, Sept. 3, 2021)
Lewiston Tribune: Steelhead numbers bad, again (Eric Barker, Aug 24, 2021)
E&E News: A Republican wants to breach dams. Where are Democrats? (March 23)
Seattle Times: GOP congressman pitches $34 billion plan to breach Lower Snake River dams in new vision for Northwest (Lynda Mapes, Feb. 7, 2021)
Spokesman Review: Steelhead fishery closure on Clearwater and Snake rivers will take economic toll (Oct. 10, 2019)
Oregon Public Broadcasting: Northwest Salmon And Steelhead In Peril, And Efforts To Save Them Scale Up In Idaho (Jan. 23, 2020)
Visit these websites of allied business and non-profit organizations to learn about what they do, how you can support them - and how to get more involved.
