Governor's Salmon Work Group Focuses on Dams at Twin Falls Meeting
Idaho Governor Brad Little’s Salmon Work Group held their fourth meeting in Twin Falls over October 29th and 30th. The Work Group, which consists of a diverse array of stakeholders, has crisscrossed the state attempting to hash out policy recommendations for the Governor that will lead to meaningful salmon and steelhead recovery in Idaho.
Scientists Alert Policymakers in Letter That Urgent Action is Needed to Cool River Waters to Prevent Salmon Extinction
On Oct 22, fifty-five unaffiliated scientists sent a letter to policymakers in Washington State, Idaho, and Oregon urging action to address high water temperatures resulting from reservoirs behind dams that severely impact salmon in the Columbia and Lower Snake Rivers.
IRU’s 2019 Award Recipients
IRU was excited to honor our 2019 Award Recipients at our 25th Annual Gala for the Rivers hosted at JUMP! on Oct. 17th, 2019. Each of these individuals and organizations has made invaluable contributions to IRU over the last year and has been integral to our work.
IRU's 2019 Gala for the Rivers: Oct 17th 2019
Thank you to everyone who helped make our 25th Annual Gala for the Rivers a success!
We had a full house at JUMP! for live music, auctions, drinks, raffles, dinner, and more. This year’s event had a new feel with an elevated space, fun raffles, new auction items, and lots of energy!
IRU's Position Statement on Today's Announcement from the Yakama and Lummi Tribes
Idaho Rivers United has stood shoulder to shoulder with Tribal leadership on restoring salmon and steelhead populations to Idaho. As co-managers of fish and wildlife resources in the Pacific Northwest, Indigenous people provide unique expertise in the management of these resources, balancing it with cultural traditions. Collaboration with Tribal partners is a cornerstone of our work and lies at the heart of solving the salmon crisis.
EPA Overturns Clean Water Rule: What It Means for Waterways and Idaho
On September 12, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rolled back protections for waterways, headwaters, and wetlands.
Post Card Drop off at the Governor's Office
If you care about Idaho salmon and steelhead, come show your support at the state house on Tuesday, the 24th of September.
The time has come to tell the Governor that Idaho needs bold leadership in order to recover our salmon and steelhead runs. We have been collecting postcards signed by folks across Idaho and the nation addressed to our governor and now we need your help in delivering them straight to his desk.
IRU, Columbia Riverkeeper, and Partners Battle for Solution to Hot Water That is Killing Salmon
On Monday, August 26th, Idaho Rivers United and many of our partners in conservation are fighting for our salmon and steelhead before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals during oral arguments in Seattle. We are fighting for the cool, clean water that these imperiled fish require.
Governor's Salmon Work Group II
Governor Little’s Salmon Work Group reconvened in Salmon on July 30th and 31st for its second round of discussion and meetings.
IRU Challenges Clean Water Act Certification for Hells Canyon Dams
IRU and Pacific Rivers have filed a petition to challenge the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality’s Clean Water Act certification of the Hells Canyon Complex of dams on the Snake River.
Guide Education Wrap-up 2019
Idaho Rivers United has been dedicated to our Guide Education program for over 15 years; this tradition allows us to build stronger relationships with river lovers from all over the United States. As the Outreach and Education Coordinator for Idaho Rivers United I was given the opportunity to travel along Idaho’s rivers educating guides for the last two months.
For The River’s,
Danielle Warnke
First Meeting for Governor Little's Salmon Work Group
Governor Brad Little convened his Salmon Work Group for their first meeting Friday, June 28, in Boise. His opening remarks rang hollow as he stated, “I remain unconvinced at this time that breaching the dams will recover salmon in Idaho. In order to keep this diverse group of stakeholders (together), we will put polarizing issues aside and focus on pragmatic, achievable solutions." IRU, and other conservation partners remain steadfast, however, that the work group must address dam breaching as a viable option in their deliberations. To not do so would be to ignore sound science on salmon hydrosystem mortality and invite the recycling of decades of failed recovery plans.
Governor's Salmon Workgroup Announced
We are pleased with the recent announcement concerning the first meeting of the Governor’s Salmon Workgroup in Boise. Governor Little has assumed a position of leadership on the recovery of our native salmon and steelhead, an issue IRU has been passionately involved in for the last two and a half decades.
Public Comment Opportunity for Black Rock Land Exchange
The public comment period for the Black Rock Land Exchange draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) has opened and will last until the 5th of July. A full EIS is due to be completed in order to study the impacts of the land exchange proposed by the J.R. Simplot Company with federally owned lands managed by the BLM.
The Star-News: The Little People will have their say on Midas Gold proposal
Our work is inspired daily by the love and passion our members have for Idaho and her rivers. Our friend Earl Dodds, has written a wonderful article, published by The Star-News, which so eloquently expresses the power of an individual, especially those who fight to protect what they love. Earl served as the Big Creek District Ranger on the Payette National Forest for more than 25 years.
IRU Welcomes New Executive Director
IRU is pleased to welcome Nic Nelson as our incoming Executive Director. Nic, a Wyoming native and a graduate of the University of Idaho, has been a professional in the fields of conservation, development and nonprofit administration for over 12 years. Most recently Nic has been with the Peregrine Fund as the Director of Partnerships.
Idaho Leaders Support Salmon at Andrus Center Conference
Last week a packed Boise State Andrus Center room listened in rapt attention as both Congressman Mike Simpson and Governor Brad Little spoke at a conference on energy, salmon, agriculture, and community. Restoring Snake River salmon and steelhead runs that are dangerously close to blinking out was the conference’s major theme. Meeting energy needs and maintaining agricultural ways of life were important caveats to the discussion.
Federal Court Decision Threatens Water Quality in Idaho
IRU, along with a group of partners, recently filed an Amicus Brief following a bad decision out of the D.C. Appellate Court regarding Clean Water Act certification of federally licensed hydropower projects.
South Fork of the Salmon Named to Most Endangered Rivers List for Second Year
The South Fork of the Salmon, a whitewater river with important spawning habitat for migrating fish, has again been named a Most Endangered River on American River’s annual list. The reason and threat are still the same: Midas Gold’s Stibnite Project, a proposed gold mine at the headwaters of the river, that threatens downstream tribal nations, communities, and species that rely on a healthy South Fork.
Idaho Power Has Good Intentions, but Calling Hydropower ‘Clean’ Energy Is a Bit of a Leap
Ben Lzicar, a Boise resident and avid river recreator, shares his concerns with how Idaho Power’s clean energy goals have failed to acknowledge hydropower’s drawbacks. He brings up the detrimental impacts dams have on Idaho’s native fish populations, as well as the fact that the reservoirs dams create emit a significant amount of greenhouse gases.