Murray/Inslee & Salmon Recovery Update
Lower Granite Dam © IRU
Less than 75 days remain for Northwestern leaders and the federal government to support a comprehensive salmon recovery plan that centers around dam breaching, invests in regional clean energy and infrastructure, and fulfills the promise of justice for Northwest Tribes.
As a refresher, this window of opportunity was opened by a court agreement last year, which placed decades of salmon recovery litigation on hold until July 31st, in an effort to bring affected states, Tribal nations, and stakeholders to the table. Senator Patty Murray and Governor Jay Inslee of Washington aligned their own federal-state process with this timeline, promising a report examining the feasibility of replacement services for the Lower Snake River dams (LSRDs).
Updates since the start of the year from both the feds and the Murray-Inslee process have been sparse. The White House via its Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) has engaged in listening sessions with Tribal nations as well as stakeholders groups.
The Murray-Inslee process released a survey, asking the public to provide input on the value of current LSRD services and the benefits potential replacements may have. The survey is still open and can be accessed here.
Salmon advocates across the Northwest are awaiting the release of a draft report and public comment period from the Murray-Inslee process. This will be a key opportunity to provide a strong message that the public values salmon and supports the communities and Tribal nations that are suffering due to continued inaction by decision makers. The draft’s release has been pushed back to late-May. For more information, visit https://www.lsrdoptions.org.
While our decision makers have stalled out on salmon recovery, the salmon advocacy world has been busy with events.
Here are a few updates and opportunities around the region:
The Tribal-led Salmon Orca Project is hosting an in-person summit in Spokane, WA on May 20th. In-person attendance is capped, but you can attend virtually! Visit https://www.salmonorcaproject.com/ for more information.
The Snake River to Salish Sea Spirit of the Waters Totem Pole Journey is underway, with Idaho events hosted by the Nez Perce Tribe and the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes. The journey is an Indigenous-led effort to raise awareness for the movement to remove the LSRDs and restore salmon runs. Find out more at https://www.spiritofthewaters.org/
The Grand Salmon Source to Sea Journey paddlers are on the water, currently making their way down the Main Salmon River after a weekend of successful events in Salmon, ID. Their journey will take them from Salmon River headwaters to the mouth of the Columbia, in an advocacy effort calling for LSRD removal and a moratorium on the Stibnite Gold Project. Learn how you can support their effort and view an event schedule at https://salmonsourcetosea.com/.
Stand with Native youth and their salmon recovery movement, by signing their petition here. Their goal is 25,000 signatures by the end of June to send to President Biden.
Finally, visit https://www.idahorivers.org/take-action and call on your elected representatives to lead on dam removal and salmon recovery.
IRU members are highly encouraged to attend one of these many important, impactful events happening across the Northwest. Let’s work together to build grassroots momentum, support Indigenous-led events, and turn a spring of advocacy into a summer of action for wild salmon.