Comments Needed On CRSO-DEIS Before April 13, 2020 | #BeTheirVoice

CRSO-DEIS Released Friday, February 28, 2020

Federal agencies released their Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DIES) for moving the region forward regarding the management of the dams and hydropower along the Columbia River Basin. Unfortunately, and not surprisingly, the draft report finds that the removal of the Lower Snake River dams is not needed at this time, and the Preferred Alternative is to continue the management of the dames as is, with addition of an increased flexible spill.

Additionally, and even more concerning is the lack of references to endangered Southern Resident killer whales (SRKWs) in the DEIS. The recovery and restoration of west coast rivers is key to the survival of SRKWs, and addressing the threat of prey abundance is a top priority in recovery plans for this critically endangered population. Their historic use of west coast waters qualifies this community as an important resource to the state of Washington, Oregon, and California, and this must be considered when evaluating the potential impact of continued operations of the Columbia | Snake River dams.

The Preferred Alternative hascontributed significantly to our current situation of diminished salmon andsteelhead returns (some of their lowest returns on record) and have pushed theSouthern Resident Killer Whales (SRKWs) to the brink of extinction. The currentpopulation of the SRKWs stands at 72, the lowest number in over 30 years. Thesepods have evolved to feed primarily on chinook salmon, which used to be foundin abundance along the mouth of the Columbia River along the Pacific coastbetween Washington and Oregon. After the Lower Snake River dams were completed,salmon and steelhead numbers plummeted, leading to their listing on theEndangered Species List. Despite spending over $17 billion dollars using the PreferredAlternative, none of the endangered Columbia River salmon or steelhead, nor theSRKWs have recovered or improved enough to be removed from the Endangered SpeciesList.

Despite acknowledging within the report that removal of the Lower Snake River dams offers the greatest benefit to the endangered fish stocks, thereby also posing the greatest chance of recovery for the SRKWs, these agencies are rejecting this option as being too costly and disruptive. Instead their plan relies on flexible spill, a program already in place as a stopgap measure to buy time until a long-term solution is determined. Scientists at the Fish Passage Center have already determined that this plan will not be enough to recover endangered salmon and steelhead. Ultimately, that means the lives of the SRKWs will continue to be compromised over a lack of political will due to corporate greed.

Salmon – and the irreplaceable benefits they bring to communities, orcas and ecosystems – face extinction today - and the clock is ticking. If the strategy recommended by this Draft EIS is adopted as a long-term strategy for Columbia Basin fish, recovery is not an option. Extinction will become almost certain for all four endangered wild Snake River stocks: sockeye, spring/summer chinook, fall chinook and steelhead, as well as our iconic SRKWs.

We have less than 45 days to speak up for the SRKWs and the endangered salmon and steelhead. The final day to submit comments is April 13, 2020. The Draft EIS can be viewed online on the Army Corps of Engineers or via the EPA's searchable EIS database.

Again, the comment period closes April 13, 2020.

To comment, visit crso.info to access the online comment form. Send written comment postmarked by April 13 to:

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Attn: CRSO EIS
P.O. Box 2870
Portland, OR 97208-2870

Your attendance is requested along with comments being accepted at the public meetings listed below:

Lewiston, ID • March 17 • 4 - 8pm
Red Lion Hotel
621 21st St.
Lewiston ID, 83501

Kennewick, WA • March 18 •4 - 8 pm
Red Lion Hotel
1101 N. Columbia Center Blvd.
Kennewick WA, 99336

Seattle, WA • March 19 • 4- 8 pm
Hilton Seattle Airport
17620 International Blvd.
Seattle WA, 98188

Spokane, WA • March 25 • 4- 8 pm
DoubleTree City Center
322 N Spokane Falls Ct.
Spokane WA, 99201

Kalispell, MT • March 26• 4 - 8 pm
Red Lion Hotel
20 N Main St.
Kalispell MT, 59901

Portland, OR • March31 • 4 - 8 pm
Oregon Convention Center
777 NE Martin Luther King Jr Blvd.
Portland OR, 97232

Orca Conservancy is urging all of our supporters to reach out and make your voice heard regarding this Draft Environmental Impact Statement.

Please stay tuned as we will be bringing you more information.