Pacific Rivers
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Mission, Vision, Approach
    • History
    • Board of Directors
    • Staff
  • Our Work
    • STORYTELLING
    • Newsletters
    • Press Releases
    • Hells Canyon Water Quality
    • BPA letter
    • Columbia River Treaty
    • Reports >
      • Forests to Faucets
      • SNORKEL SURVEY
      • CANTON CREEK SURVEY
    • Brochure
    • Wild Steelhead Sanctuary Act
  • Donate
  • Take Action
    • Share
    • Email Sign-Up
  • Contact
  • Store

YAKAMA TRIBAL CHAIR CALLS FOR DAM REMOVAL

In a historic and unprecedented move, the Yakama and Lummi nations called for the removal of Bonneville, The Dalles and John Day dams on the lower Columbia River to restore salmon runs. Standing along the banks of what once was Celilo Falls, one of the greatest and oldest fishing sites on earth, but now inundated by the The Dalles Dam twelve miles downstream, Yakama tribal chairman, JoDe Goudy, and Lummi tribal chairman, Jay Julius, said removal of the lower Columbia dams was essential for the recovery of salmon and Southern Resident Orca. Thirteen different stocks of Columbia River salmon and steelhead are protected under the Endangered Species Act, despite years of work and billions of dollars of effort to improve conditions on the river for salmon. Southern Puget Sound Orca, which rely on chinook from the Columbia and Snake rivers, have dwindled to just 73 individuals.

The 70 miles of predator-infested reservoir created by John Day dam is a particularly egregious killer of juvenile salmon, perhaps on par with the impacts caused by the four lower Snake River dams. The destruction of the 15,000 + year old fishing grounds and villages at Celilo Falls by The Dalles Dam in 1957 was a near-fatal blow to tribal culture and economies, which have yet to recover.

We support the leadership shown by the Yakama and Lummi nations in calling for dam removal on Indigenous Peoples Day. Their way of life and their future, is tied to the fate of the Columbia River and its salmon. The trend does not look good. New ideas and leadership are needed and the tribes are providing that with their call for dam removal.  Energy can come from many sources. Grain can be moved by many ways. There is only one way for salmon - in a free-flowing river.  

​#freecelilofalls
​​
Donate
TAKE ACTION
Today, throughout the Snake River Basin, imperiled populations of salmon continue to die at rates far below sustainable replacement levels. Scientists have told us for decades that breaching the four federal dams in the lower Snake River. Congressman Mike Simpson of Idaho has an ambitious proposal to remove the dams and invest billions in energy, irrigation and transportation infrastructure.  But elected leaders in Washington and Oregon must step up too before we lose the fish that define the region’s ecology and cultural heritage. Good work is happening in places like the Lostine, but ultimately, the success of those collaborations depend on restoring a free-flowing Snake River. 

TAKE ACTION

Picture
Connect

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

503.228.3555 
info@pacificrivers.org
Get Involved

Protect clean water and healthy rivers by promoting healthy watersheds.
TAKE ACTION

© 2021 Copyright Pacific Rivers. All rights reserved.
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Mission, Vision, Approach
    • History
    • Board of Directors
    • Staff
  • Our Work
    • STORYTELLING
    • Newsletters
    • Press Releases
    • Hells Canyon Water Quality
    • BPA letter
    • Columbia River Treaty
    • Reports >
      • Forests to Faucets
      • SNORKEL SURVEY
      • CANTON CREEK SURVEY
    • Brochure
    • Wild Steelhead Sanctuary Act
  • Donate
  • Take Action
    • Share
    • Email Sign-Up
  • Contact
  • Store