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TAKE ACTION

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The Lostine River’s Salmon Need a Free-Flowing Lower Snake River

Oregon’s Lostine River is a headwater stream of the Grand Ronde River watershed, which in turn is a major tributary of the Snake River Basin. In addition to the conservation easements within the Wolfe Century Ranch, sixteen miles of the upper Lostine River are also permanently protected by National Wild and Scenic Rivers Act designation. 

While the Lostine River still contains exceptional salmon habitat, and the remarkable recent success of Chinook Salmon in the river is profoundly encouraging, the largest challenge still facing these incredible fish remains their dangerous journey through the eight massive hydropower dams on the Lower Snake and Columbia Rivers. The Lostine River Weir is located 600 miles from the Pacific Ocean and every salmon returning here makes that journey twice: once as a juvenile and once as a returning adult.

The Snake River Basin’s Spring and Fall Chinook are both listed as Threatened under the Endangered Species Act. Scientists have been telling us for decades that the best chance to recover these fish before they slip further towards extinction is to remove the four destructive dams on the Lower Snake River. This would vastly improve the survival rates of juvenile fish during their migration to sea. 

Today, throughout the Snake River Watershed, imperiled populations of salmon continue to die at rates far below sustainable replacement levels. Because the stagnant reservoirs behind the dams roast in the sun all Summer long, the water frequently hits temperatures lethal to salmon. A free-flowing lower Snake River would be substantially cooler during crucial months for juvenile and adult salmon migration, an important consideration for the future of these fish as the climate continues to warm. 

After generations of lost time and billions of dollars of failed mitigation efforts, the time has come for elected leaders to finally take the steps necessary to breach these unnecessary dams and restore the region’s salmon before we lose the fish that define the region’s ecology and cultural heritage. We can’t allow efforts and collaborations like those occurring on the Lostine River to be wasted. 

Please take action and tell our leaders to remove the lower four Snake River Dams by clicking the 'TAKE ACTION' button below or calling, or sending a tweet to the following Senators: 
​
  • Senator Ron Wyden's office: (202) 224-5244
  • Senator Jeff Merkley's office: (202) 224-3753
  • Senator Patty Murray's office: (202) 224-2621
  • Senator Maria Cantwell's office: (202) 224-3441
Or sending a quick tweet to @RonWyden @jeffmerkley @PattyMurray @SenatorCantwell
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TAKE ACTION
Help Save Spring Chinook Salmon!
Spring Chinook Salmon are a Northwest treasure. We must do everything possible to save them. One of the most important things we can do right now is to call for Endangered Species Act protections for all imperiled Pacific Northwest populations of spring-run Chinook salmon, including those of the Washington Coast, the Southern Oregon/Northern California Coast, and the Upper Klamath-Trinity River system.
 
Please write the following officials of the National Marine Fisheries Service to call for Endangered Species Act protections for all imperiled populations of spring-run Chinook salmon:
Janet Coit
Assistant Administrator for Fisheries
janet.coit@noaa.gov
Jennifer Quan
NOAA Regional Administrator for West Coast Fisheries

jennifer.quan@noaa.gov​

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1001 SE Water Ave., Suite 450
Portland, OR 97214

503.228.3555 
info@pacificrivers.org
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  • Home
  • About Us
    • Mission, Vision, Approach
    • History
    • Board of Directors
    • Staff
  • Our Work
    • Newsletters
    • FILMS
    • Press Releases
    • Hells Canyon Water Quality
    • BPA letter
    • Columbia River Treaty
    • Reports >
      • Forests to Faucets
      • SNORKEL SURVEY
      • CANTON CREEK SURVEY
    • Brochure
    • WA Spring Chinook Petition
    • Wild Steelhead Sanctuary Act
  • Donate
  • Take Action
    • Share
    • Email Sign-Up
  • Contact
  • Store