And Yes, how you can help.
The Snake River
The Snake River runs through some of the most ecologically significant areas in the Pacific Northwest, providing vital habitats for wildlife and cultural touchstones for Indigenous communities. At the heart of an ongoing debate is the question of whether four federal dams on the lower Snake River should be breached. Increasingly, science, environmental advocacy, and Indigenous voices align in saying, “Yes, it’s time to remove the dams.” Here’s why breaching the dams is so critical.
The Chinook Salmon Crisis
Chinook salmon are the lifeblood of the Snake River ecosystem, but their numbers have plummeted due to the dams. These fish need free-flowing rivers to complete their life cycle: migrating upstream to spawn and downstream to the ocean. The dams—Ice Harbor, Lower Monumental, Little Goose, and Lower Granite—obstruct these pathways, even with fish ladders in place. The slow-moving reservoirs created by the dams also warm the water, creating lethal conditions for salmon.
Breaching the dams would restore 140 miles of the Snake River, transforming it into a cooler, faster-flowing habitat ideal for salmon. Scientists estimate that removing the dams could double or even triple Chinook salmon populations in the river, ensuring a future for this keystone species.
Why This Matters for Southern Resident Orcas
The fate of the Chinook salmon is intricately tied to that of the endangered Southern Resident Orcas, which depend on these fish as their primary food source. With Chinook salmon populations at historic lows, the orcas are starving. Breaching the Snake River dams would mean more salmon making it to the ocean and into the mouths of these iconic marine mammals.
The Southern Residents are more than just orcas; they are a cultural symbol of the Pacific Northwest and an indicator of the health of our marine ecosystems. Helping them recover by restoring salmon runs is not just an environmental imperative but a moral one.
Additional Benefits of Breaching the Dams
Beyond salmon and orcas, breaching the dams would have cascading positive effects across ecosystems and communities:
Improved Water Quality: Removing the dams would reduce water temperatures and improve overall river health, benefiting countless aquatic species.
Economic Opportunities: While the dams produce hydroelectric power and support some transportation, these benefits are increasingly outweighed by their costs. Investing in renewable energy, such as wind and solar, and improving rail and trucking infrastructure could replace the dams’ functions while creating jobs.
Cultural Restoration: Many Indigenous tribes, including the Nez Perce, consider salmon sacred and central to their way of life. Restoring salmon runs would honor treaties and rights long overlooked.
Recreation and Tourism: A restored, free-flowing Snake River would attract anglers, kayakers, and wildlife enthusiasts, boosting local economies.
A Path Forward
While breaching the dams is a significant undertaking, it’s not an insurmountable one. With advances in renewable energy and growing public awareness, the Pacific Northwest has a historic opportunity to lead by example in balancing human needs with environmental stewardship.
We cannot afford to wait. Every year that passes brings Chinook salmon and Southern Resident Orcas closer to extinction. By breaching the Snake River dams, we take a bold step toward preserving biodiversity, respecting Indigenous rights, and ensuring a healthier future for generations to come.
The Snake River has the potential to become a beacon of ecological recovery—if we let it flow freely once more.
How you can help
We are facing a critical moment in the preservation of endangered Southern Resident Orcas and the chinook salmon. The Snake River dams continue to pose a significant threat to their survival and must be breeched. We have an opportunity to make a difference.
We are providing a letter template that you can send to elected officials and federal agency leaders, urging them to take action. This letter emphasizes the importance of restoring the river to its natural, free-flowing state and highlight the urgent need for action to protect these iconic species. Change the letter how ever you want or send it off as it.
In addition to the letter template, we have compiled email addresses for key decision-makers, making it easy for you to reach out and voice your concerns.
Your advocacy can help drive meaningful change and ensure a brighter future for wild salmon and orcas in the Pacific Northwest. Please join us in calling for action.
コメント