Listen to the Spokane Riverkeeper explain the potential costs and benefits of Rep. Simpson’s Snake River Dam removal proposal.
Make no mistake about it, the Spokane Riverkeeper supports Lower Snake River dam removal. We believe it is our last best chance to bring the historic run of salmon back to a river once teeming with them. The plan put forward by Congressman Mike Simpson from rural Idaho, provides energy towards this goal. However, the environmental concessions included in his plan give us deep concerns. We urge our Washington Congressional Leaders to get involved and negotiate a plan that does not comprise our bedrock environmental laws. Please read our letter to Congressman Simpson to understand the breadth of our concerns which are summarized below.
The Spokane Riverkeeper supports the idea and action of removing the four Lower Snake River Dams to recover salmon/steelhead in the Middle Basin.
The Spokane Riverkeeper believes that this LSR/Simpson concept (negotiation effort) needs to respect the efforts, visions and actions that that are underway and being led by UCUT in the upper basin
The Spokane Riverkeeper believes that it is imperative that the environmental roll backs inside the Simpson Concept (NEPA, ESA, CWA, Ag Partnerships, FERC freeze) need to be stripped out of this package or concept as they are non-negotiable. These are the heart and soul of the environmental movement.
The Spokane Riverkeeper has no opinion and will never have an opinion on the infrastructure components inside the concept. Not part of our core mission nor our business.
