OC Comments on Columbia River System Operations (CRSO)_Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS)

Due to Orca Conservancy's focus on advocating for recovery to allow delisting of Southern Resident killer whales (SRKWs) under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), the majority of our findings with the Draft Environmental Impact Statement were failures in representing the SRKWs properly and it falls short of making recovery efforts fully discussed within the ESA.

The DEIS does not offer a new approach; rather it recommends minor tweaks to a 25-year federal approach that has cost billions of dollars, and has been invalidated five times consecutively in federal court. The science is well established in showing that restoration of the lower Snake River through dam breaching will be critical in protecting its imperiled native fishes from extinction and will recover them to abundant and harvestable levels. A new regionally-led approach is urgently needed with Northwest policymakers – governors and members of congress – working closely with the region’s stakeholders, sovereigns and citizens to craft a lawful,   science-based plan that recovers salmon and Southern Resident Killer Whales, invests in vibrant fishing and farming communities and ensures a reliable and affordable energy system for current and future generations.