September 11, 2007 – Washington, DC – Nearly 20 national environmental, conservation and outdoor organizations have teamed with sport and commercial fishing groups to urge Congress to oppose a provision in a pending federal spending bill that threatens salmon recovery efforts in the Pacific Northwest, and undermines the integrity of the Endangered Species Act.
Language currently in the Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2008 (S. 1696) seeks to circumvent recent court rulings that declared illegal a federal recovery plan for endangered salmon and steelhead in the Upper Snake River basin. The 2006 court decision came under immediate fire by representatives of Idaho’s industrial water users and members of the Idaho congressional delegation, warning that they would take “whatever action necessary and possible to turn back this explicit threat.”
The provision, Sec. 127, directs that “The Secretary of the Interior should seek to carry out without further delay the provisions identified in the Upper Snake River Basin Biological Opinion released by the National Marine Fisheries Service, Northwest Region dated March 31, 2005 for the conservation of salmon and steelhead species in the Columbia and Snake River Basins and the Upper Snake River Basin Biological Opinion issued by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service dated March 31, 2005 for the conservation of various species in the Pacific Northwest.”
The language was added to the bill by Senator Larry Craig (R-ID) and approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee in June.
Via a strongly worded letter addressed to Appropriations Committee chairs Senator Diane Feinstein (D-CA) and Congressman Norm Dicks (D-WA) and delivered members of both houses of Congress, the groups noted that such legislative action could threaten ongoing salmon recovery efforts while delaying real solutions to the Pacific Northwest’s salmon crisis. Because it urges the federal agencies to implement a biological opinion that has been declared illegal and is currently being rewritten by those agencies, the provision risks undermining both the Endangered Species Act and a valid federal court process.
In appealing to Congressional leadership to remove the language from the bill, the letter concludes that “Salmon and salmon-based communities are fighting for their lives throughout the Northwest, including Idaho, where Pacific salmon are most imperiled. Now is not the time, and a congressional spending bill is certainly not the place, to risk derailing salmon recovery.”
Groups signing the letter include: American Rivers, American Whitewater, Center for Biological Diversity, Defenders of Wildlife, Earthjustice, Endangered Species Coalition, Federation of Fly Fishers, Friends of the Earth, Idaho Rivers United, Idaho Steelhead and Salmon Unlimited, National Wildlife Federation, Natural Resources Defense Council, NW Energy Coalition, Northwest Sportfishing Industry Association, Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Associations, Republicans for Environmental Protection, Salmon Protection and Watershed Network, Sierra Club and Save Our Wild Salmon.
Full text of the letter is available at www.wildsalmon.org <http://www.wildsalmon.org/> .
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Removal could cost $5 billion less than keeping the dams
WASHINGTON DC — Removing four dams on the lower Snake River in Eastern Washington state could save U.S. taxpayers and Northwest electricity consumers billions of dollars, according to a study released today.
The report, entitled Revenue Stream, was compiled by a coalition of business organizations, Republicans for Enrionmental Protection, taxpayer advocates and conservation groups, including Idaho Rivers United. It was released at a Washington DC press conference and regionally.
Using the best and most recent information available, Revenue Stream presents a unique, side-by-side comparison of the costs of maintaining and operating the dams and inadequate fish protection programs versus the costs of removing the dams and replacing their benefits. The conclusion: Dam removal could cost $6 billion or more over 10 years, but would ultimately save taxpayers and Northwest electric consumers nearly $5 billion.
The report also highlights new economic benefits that would result from a free flowing river. Fishing and recreation opportunities would increase after lower Snake dam removal, and could contribute another $20 billion to the Northwest’s economy. Much of those dollars would benefit Idaho.
“I’ve known for years that dam removal would benefit my business and my community’s economy,” says Tom Anderson, city councilman and owner of the Salmon River Motel in Riggins, Idaho. “This report demonstrates that we can remove the dams, replace their energy, keep affected communities whole, and restore Snake River salmon and steelhead.
“But the findings alone won’t benefit my community — our elected leaders need to be willing to honestly examine dam removal as part of the ultimate salmon solution,” Anderson said.
Rexann Zimmerman, owner of the local tackle shop in Riggins, knows well the benefits of strong salmon and steelhead fishing seasons. “The good returns of 2001 helped triple my yearly income in two months,” Zimmerman. “A dependable, restored fishery would bring more tourists and millions of dollars to Riggins every year.”
The report also examines the potential costs of replacing the benefits now associated with the dams — power production, transportation infrastructure investments and ensuring that the 13 farmers who now irrigate crops from water backed up by the dams will be able to continue doing so.
“The four lower Snake dams are costing taxpayers and killing our salmon,” said Bill Sedivy, executive director for Idaho Rivers United. “Revenue Stream makes it clear that we can save money, restore salmon by removing the lower Snake dams and keep people and communities who might be adversely affected by dam removal whole.
“It’s time for Idaho’s elected leaders to consider dam removal as part of a scientifically sound, economically viable and beneficial salmon recovery plan,” Sedivy said.
Revenue Stream was researched and prepared by staff of sponsoring organizations, including Taxpayers for Common Sense, REP America, PCFFA, the Institute for Fisheries Research, Northwest Sportfishing Industry Association, NW Energy Coalition, Save Our Wild Salmon, American Rivers and Idaho Rivers United.
Copies of the report are available for download online at www.wildsalmon.org or by clicking here. http://www.idahorivers.org/pdf/revenuestream.pdf
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