About Us
ISSU was founded March 1984 when two groups merged to combat what they thought was the cause of fish declines. Salmon and steelhead seasons had been closed and like many Idahoans at that time, sportsmen thought the declining fish numbers were due to the Tribes harvesting too many fish not yet knowing that 80% of the smolt were being killed during their out migration by out of Idaho dams before they ever reached the ocean.
ISSU membership rose to about 1800 people within 18 Months. Our first legal action was to ask Attorney General Jim Jones to file an Amicus Curiae in the on going Columbia River Compact (US Vs Oregon) litigation. This got Idaho involved in salmon management. In 1985, ISSU sponsored legislation to stop wide spread selling of Wild steelhead in supermarkets. (Passed in 86.) Also in 1985 ISSU sponsored legislation that added 3.00 to steelhead tags to be used for public access, i.e. parking areas, boat ramps, toilet facilities etc. Both are still in effect.
What is ISSU? ISSU is a sportsmen’s advocacy organization, formed March 20th, 1984 by a diverse group of Idaho businessmen, fishing guides, outfitters, conservationist and concerned citizens. The goal of the organization at that time and remains today is to ensure that Idaho’s rivers will always be plentiful with salmon and steelhead for all to enjoy. ISSU is the only organization in Idaho pursuing the single agenda of restoring Idaho’s wild anadromous fish runs to healthy, self-sustaining, and harvestable numbers. ISSU is committed to keep salmon and steelhead recovery issues in the forefront of the Idaho media and with Idaho’s elected officials. The organization is further committed to be the Idaho source for factual information about Idaho recovery issues for the Idaho sporting public, political leaders and others.
Founded March 1984, ISSU formed when two groups merged to combat what they thought was the cause of fish declines. Salmon and steelhead seasons had been closed, and like many Idahoans of the time, sportsmen thought the declining fish numbers were due to the Tribes harvesting too many fish. Idaho sportsmen had not yet realized that 80% of Idaho’s young salmon and steelhead smolt were being killed during their out migration by downstream Washington Idaho’s fish are still in an extinction spiral. Every year, millions of federal tax dollars are wasted on “feel good” measures that hold little hope for fish recovery. Never before have state dams before they ever reached the ocean.
ISSU membership rose quickly to about 1800 people within 18 Months. Currenly the membership is approximately 2000. The organizations first legal action was to ask then Attorney General Jim Jones to file a Amicus Curiae in the on going Columbia River Compact (US Vs Oregon) litigation. This action got Idaho involved in salmon management. In 1985, ISSU sponsored legislation to stop wide spread selling of Wild steelhead in supermarkets. (Passed in 1986.) Also in 1985, ISSU sponsored legislation that added $3.00 to steelhead tags to be used for public access, i.e. parking areas, boat ramps, toilet facilities etc. Both pieces of legislation are still in effect today.By 1987 ISSU had become the voice for the Idaho fisherman and participated in numerous hearings. ISSU was appointed to the System Planning and Oversight Committee with the goal of doubling the runs. During this time period it became evident that there were bigger and more significant reasons other than Indian fishing causing the declining numbers of fish. The returning numbers were in freefall and it was becoming clear it was due to out of state dams and not tribal fishing practices. Idaho’s fish were listed under the Endangered Species Act in 1991. The listing causes a significant ripple effect. ISSU was selected to represent the entire Columbia sports fishing community at the now infamous “Salmon Summit.” Oregon Sen. Hatfield convened the summit and he appointed Northwest Power planning Council to oversee the proceedings. Unfortunately all that resulted from the 1991 Salmon Summit was a massive power play by the hydropower industry, the aluminum industry, and others represented by a high-powered mediation group from New York who was not at all concerned with health of Idaho’s fish runs. The summit was a miserable failure. This stacked deck set the stage for today’s fish problems. The summit also led to the end of the Power Councils effective representation of migrating fish. The Council has now been co-opted by political appointees who have made power industries the only factor in the recovery debate and not the fish. ISSU has testified at numerous US Senate hearings and House Sub-Committees hearings.
ISSU has played a key role in elevating Snake River salmon and Steelhead into a national issue. In fact, during the 2000 presidential election the pacific salmon recovery issue was a key issue in the Northwest debates. Unfortunately today little has changed from the failing salmon plans adopted in the late 90s. The deck is still stacked against Idaho fish, Idaho fishermen, small Idaho communities, and Idaho businesses who should be reeling in millions of dollars annually from a vibrant and flourishing fishing economy.
Idaho’s salmon and steelhead populations needed sportsmen support more. Current programs are failing to restore both wild and hatchery returns. Current fish management policies are failing Idaho’s salmon and steelhead are experiencing constant and blatant political attacks. Recent attempts to close down agencies that furnish accurate and reliable fish count information for the public are further proof. This is a deliberate political move revealing the true poker hand of false concern for Idaho fish, further showing that if regional politicians do not like the science they kill the messenger. It has become clear there is a deliberate attempt to ignore the dwindling Idaho fish returns in favor of hydropower, developers, and other out-of-state interests. As a consequence the fish numbers border on the edge of extinction and have plummeted to lows not seen since the 1950s. Because reasoning has been ignored, ISSU in conjunction with other organizations has been in court in an effort to get the salmon and steelhead recovery issue out of the complete grasp of failed regional politics.
ISSU is a participating member of the Save Our Wild Salmon Coalition, works with other organizations such as Taxpayers for Common Sense in order to reveal ridiculous federal spending, and works with Idaho Fish and Game to develop good fishing regulations, sportsmen’s access and stream restoration. Idaho’s fish, Idaho’s sportsmen, and the communities that depend on a healthy river environment need better leadership in order to regain Idaho’s salmon and steelhead populations for the overall benefit of Idaho’s future economic and ecological health.
The ISSU Board of Directors is determined to win this fight, but we cannot do this alone we need a united sportsmen front. For more information contact ISSU Field Director Bill Boyer at (208) 424-3351 or e-mail at issunlimited @ qwest.net.
The ISSU Board of Directors & Members believe wild steelhead and salmon fish have an inherent right to exist. Restoring wild fish runs will bring millions of dollars to Idaho’s river communities. A free flowing lower Snake River below Lewiston is the most cost effective and reasonable solution to Idaho’s anadromous fish problems.
