68 Scientists send letter to NW policymakers on Snake River salmon and dams

February 22, 2021

TO: Northwest Governors, Members of Congress, Policymakers
RE: Scientists’ letter on the need for lower Snake River dam removal to protect salmon and steelhead from extinction and restore abundant, fishable populations.

The attached letter (see below), authored and signed by 68 of the nation’s and Northwest region’s premier salmon and fisheries scientists, summarizes actions necessary to protect and restore abundant salmon and steelhead runs to the Snake/Columbia River Basin.

This letter’s major conclusions are:

1. The negative impacts of Federal Columbia River Power System (FCRPS) dams and reservoirs on ESA-listed salmon are clearly and unequivocally impeding their recovery and restoration.

2. Recovery of ESA-listed salmon and steelhead in the Snake River basin cannot be accomplished without removing four FCRPS dams on the Lower Snake River – regardless of other environmental and management factors – including ocean conditions.

3. These four dams must be removed not only to avoid extinction of Snake River fish, but, because these dams block the gateway to high quality, resilient spawning habitat in a world facing increasing impacts of climate change, their removal is essential to restore abundant, harvestable salmon, and provide the highest likelihood of achieving the region-wide goals of the Columbia Basin Partnership and the Northwest Power and Conservation Council, and to honor the nation’s promises to Northwest tribes.
4. The actions set forth in the 2020 Federal Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and Biological Opinion (BiOp) are insufficient and will not reverse salmon declines, much less rebuild populations to sustainable levels.

Refer questions to these members of the science team:
Howard Schaller (Oregon scientist): howie.a.schaller@gmail.com 503-560-6189
Terry Holubetz (Idaho scientist): tbholubetz@gmail.com 208-871-0292
Deborah Giles (Washington scientist): giles7@uw.edu 916-531-1516