New federal salmon plan ignores needs of coastal and inland communities
SPOKANE, Wash., Oct. 31, 2007 – Inland Northwest business and community leaders today joined with conservation, clean-energy and taxpayer advocates to call for region-wide consideration of removing the four lower Snake River dams to solve the deepening crisis over Columbia basin salmon.
Their comments came in response to the release of a new draft Biological Opinion from NOAA Fisheries that salmon advocates say fails to do enough to recover imperiled salmon runs in the Columbia-Snake River basin. NOAA Fisheries rewrote the federal salmon plan under court order from federal Judge James Redden, who declared the 2004 version illegal – a ruling later upheld by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.
“For years, the debate over the future of Columbia & Snake River salmon, and whether to remove the four lower Snake River dams, has been cast as a clash between energy and environmental interests, of fishermen against farmers. But this is a false choice,” said Don Barbieri, chairman of Spokane-based Red Lion Hotels. “Many business owners and community leaders recognize that quality of life and abundant recreation opportunities offer the Inland Northwest a growing competitive edge. Trading four dams for a restored river, abundant salmon and a modernized transportation system could leave the Northwest economy and its communities with a brighter future.”
In addition to the harm all four dams bring to the basin’s endangered salmon, Lower Granite Dam in particular poses an increasing flood risk to the inland communities of Clarkston, Wash., and Lewiston, Idaho, due to the massive amounts of sediment accumulating behind it.
“This plan fails the salmon and it fails our communities, said Dustin Aherin of Lewiston-based Citizens for Progress. “To move forward, we need a credible and legal salmon recovery plan. What we don’t need is another turn on the Biop merry-go-round. Instead, we should look at what dam removal could mean for Lewiston and Clarkston. If we do it right, it can mean reduced flood risk, a restored waterfront, a lucrative recreation industry, a vibrant business climate — and economic certainty.”
“Our region faces a do-or-die decision – either remove these dams and truly restore wild salmon and salmon-dependent communities, or allow both to wither away,” said Sara Patton, executive director of NW Energy Coalition, a regional clean-energy and consumer-protection alliance. “Electric ratepayers keep paying and paying for measures that can’t possibly restore threatened and endangered Columbia Basin fish or help those living, working and doing business in salmon-dependent communities. New jobs and economic development will more than compensate for removing these four dams and replacing their limited energy production with energy efficiency and affordable new renewable power.”
“It is time for the Northwest’s elected leaders to stop standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the Bush administration to protect the status quo, and start helping Columbia and Snake river communities forge a new vision for the future,” said Michael Garrity of American Rivers. “With smart investments in transportation, renewable energy, and irrigation infrastructure, we can affordably replace the limited benefits of the four lower Snake dams. A one-time investment in removing these dams and replacing their benefits makes a lot more sense for taxpayers and local communities than continuing to throw money at a plan that’s a demonstrated failure.”
Following a public comment period, a final version of the plan is expected in late January, 2008.
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