ACTION ALERT: Stop the Proposed Dam on the Chehalis River

Make a public comment at the monthly Chehalis Basin Board meetings, and submit a public comment on the EIS later this year (more details to come).

Members of Orca Conservancy along with Save Our Wild Salmon Coalition floatilla

What is this project and why does it matter?

In 2020 the Chehalis River Basin Flood Control Zone District (Flood District) proposed the construction of a flood-retention dam and reservoir on the Chehalis River near the town of Pe Ell. The original analysis under the 2020 draft EIS stated that the dam would have significant adverse effects including reducing fall salmon runs, degrading water quality, and increasing greenhouse gasses.

Image by Chehalis River Basin Flood Control Zone District

Since the initial proposal, the project applicants have made several changes to the proposal, restarting the state environmental review process. The draft state environmental review (EIS) is expected to be available for public comment Fall of 2025, and the final review is anticipated for early 2026.

The revisions on the proposed dam include massive changes to the original design and a location move to 1,000 ft upstream. The new proposal claims to have innovative designs that stop flooding while accounting for fish with an “open channel fish passage” that will be implemented throughout every phase of construction.

While a bypass channel is a potentially positive solution, the challenges in replicating natural river conditions, ensuring fish use of the bypass, and maintaining water quality during construction are significant concerns. Past fish passage projects where bypasses and fish ladders have been installed have seen mixed success. It is crucial to ensure that the project minimizes harm to fish populations and the overall river ecosystem.

How will this dam impact orcas and salmon?

The proposed Chehalis River Dam threatens the recovery of critically endangered Southern Resident killer whales and salmon populations, further jeopardizing their survival. These iconic species rely on healthy river ecosystems and abundant salmon runs. The proposed dam would block vital fish migration routes; including Chinook salmon which is the main food source of SRKWs, and risks devastating local fisheries.

How to Help Stop the Dam:

Attend the monthly Chehalis Basin Board meetings and make a public comment

The meetings are held on the first Thursday of each month and are hybrid with in-person and virtual options.

Attendees have the option to submit a written or verbal comment at the start and end of the meeting.

Next Meeting:

March 6th, 2025 - Time, location, and Zoom link to come

2025 Meeting Dates:

Thursday, April 3
Thursday, May 1
Thursday, June 5
Thursday, July 10
Thursday, August 7
Thursday, September 4
Thursday, October 2
Thursday, November 6
Thursday, December 4

Note: We will continue to update this page to reflect the current meeting and how to attend as more information is released.

Tips for public comment:

• Be respectful and polite in your comments, email, or letter.

• Get personal, share your experiences, and why you care. Personal messages carry more sentiment and weight which are more meaningful and can have a bigger impact on policymakers.

• Avoid pre-written copy-and-paste templates. New practices make it so pre-written templates only get counted once. Meaning if multiple people submit the same exact comment, letter, or email, it will only be recorded once. Make it personal and unique to make sure it is counted.

• Cite relevant data that supports your comment.

Suggested talking points:

• 2024 saw the birth and death of three newborn calves (J60, L128, and J62) along with the loss of two adult breeding males (L85, and K26 - missing, will likely be declared deceased on the upcoming census). The population is holding in the low 70s because there is not enough fish to sustain population growth. To ensure calves and breeding members survive, there needs to be enough fish to support growth. Constructing dams on critical salmon habitat will only further exasperate the lack of food, further risking the endangered Southern Residents.
  

• The Chehalis River is a vital habitat for wild salmon, including Chinook salmon, which are crucial to the endangered Southern Resident killer whales. Construction of the dam would inundate approximately 847 acres and extend 6.2 miles, leading to the loss of critical spawning and rearing habitats. This alteration could significantly disrupt the life cycles of salmon species, potentially reducing their populations.
  

• The remaining 73 Southern Resident killer whales are protected under the Endangered Species Act. Construction of a dam could pose a violation of this act as it poses a threat to the main food source (Chinook salmon) and the entire ecosystem on which the Southern Residents depend.
  

• While the dam aims to reduce flooding, its construction could displace residents and businesses, leading to economic hardship and loss of community cohesion. Additionally, the dam's effectiveness in flood mitigation has been questioned, with concerns that it may not provide significant benefits to downstream communities.
  

• The Chehalis River Basin is integral to the cultural and subsistence practices of local tribes, including the Quinault Indian Nation. The dam's construction would inundate tribal lands, disrupting traditional activities such as fishing, hunting, and gathering. The loss of salmon populations would further threaten the cultural heritage and food security of these communities.
  

• Flooding caused by the dam could submerge or damage sites of historical and cultural significance to indigenous peoples, leading to the loss of irreplaceable cultural heritage.
  

• The dam would alter the river's natural state, potentially reducing opportunities for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and wildlife viewing, which are important to local economies.
  

• The original analysis under the 2020 draft EIS stated that the dam would have significant adverse effects. According to the Department of Ecology, the adverse effects include:

  • Reducing fall-run Chinook salmon, Coho salmon, and steelhead trout (all of which are SRKW prey)

  • Reducing native aquatic species such as lamprey and freshwater mussels, and wildlife such as amphibians

  • Degrading habitat (land, water, and wetlands)

  • Degrading water quality in river and streams

  • Increasing greenhouse gas emissions
    

• Other solutions to manage the flooding exist. Some of these include the Local Action No-Dam (LAND) Alternatives that promote options like floodplain restoration, improved drainage systems, levee improvements, building elevation, voluntary buyouts, and land use planning.