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Push to Save Fish Prompts Federal Salmon Bill
The Salmon Planning Act , introduced by U.S. Representatives Jim McDermott (D-WA) and Thomas Petri (R-WI) gained 38 co-sponsors and several endorsements from conservation groups, fishing businesses and Northwest Tribes, as of August 7. The legislation requires the federal government to plan for partially removing four dams on the lower Snake River to restore endangered salmon and steelhead runs, should the alternatives fail.
The bill, introduced July 19 as H.R. 2573, is a wake up call to the region, explains Nicole Cordan with the Save Our Wild Salmon Coalition (SOS ). "McDermott and Petri have shown great leadership and vision in introducing the Salmon Planning Act," she says. "These Congressmen understand that if this region does not plan, we may find ourselves in the midst of a train wreck that could have been avoided."
The legislation comes in the midst of extremely poor river conditions due to low water and federal management decisions which place power generation above fish passage, according to Rob Masonis of American Rivers . The bill also addresses the failure to implement the current biological opinion, part of the federal salmon plan released in December. "We need to do what it takes to protect salmon. We need to do what it takes to protect local communities, so that we are not caught flat-footed when it comes time to take action," Masonis says.
The legislation directs the General Accounting Office to undertake studies of how partial removal will impact employment, irrigation, transportation and energy supply. It also calls on the Secretary of the Army to conduct preliminary engineering, design and construction studies for dam removal. These studies, according to SOS, will support the necessary plans to protect affected rural communities.
The bill also gives authority to the Army Corps of Engineers to partially remove the dams if it is deemed necessary by the Secretary of Interior to meet obligations of treaties with Northwest Tribes; or by the Secretary of Commerce to meet requirements of the Endangered Species Act ; or by the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to comply with the Clean Water Act . Observers expect that none of these three triggers will be pulled unless the determinations are made by a federal appeals court. Even if one of the agencies did authorize dam removal, Congress still would have to vote on appropriations.
In addition, the bill calls on the National Academy of Sciences to peer review the science in the federal salmon plan. That review would examine performance standards, population standards, implementation plans and periodic progress reviews.
Salmon advocates argue the federal salmon plan fails to provide a clear and timely path for partially removing the dams if it becomes necessary. They also note that the plan weighted heavily toward actions to improve tributary and estuary habitat and to overhaul hatchery management is fraught with delays and barriers to implementation. Dam removal may be triggered after at least five years if performance standards are not met.
McDermott emphasizes the Salmon Planning Act is a common-sense step to save dwindling fish runs. "The Bush administration has so far failed to allocate funds to implement the 2000 Salmon Recovery Plan to avoid dam removal. If this bill nudges them to take the plan seriously and it is successful in preventing the breaching of the dams, then no one would be happier than I would," McDermott told the Lewiston Morning Tribune. "Now is the time to plan for all contingencies."
After being introduced, the Salmon Planning Act was referred to both the House Resources Committee and the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. In addition to SOS and American Rivers, support for the legislation includes endorsements from Friends of the Earth, National Wildlife Federation, Northwest Sportfishing Industry Association, Taxpayers for Common Sense, Trout Unlimited, the Umatilla Tribe , the Nez Perce Tribe and the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission .
Corinne Hollister