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
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
