No more flawed and failed plans, please

Scientists say that at least 2 percent of the young fish migrating to the sea (smolts) must survive and return as adults for upriver salmon and steelhead stocks to sustain themselves. That has happened only a few times in the last two decades. And science indicates that removing four lower Snake River dams, like the Lower Monumental Dam pictured above, is the best way to ensure recovery of salmon to the Columbia and Snake rivers. 

by Chris Wood

We learned late Wednesday that the latest federal plan to restore salmon and steelhead in the Columbia and Snake river drainages isn’t good enough. In fact, no federal plan since 2000 has earned court approval. 

There’s a reason for that. 

Big challenges—and recovering wild runs of salmon and steelhead in the Northwest is a big challenge—require creative and innovative thinking and ideas from all involved. We at Trout Unlimited know this because we’ve succeeded in tackling complex problems using a collaborative approach to achieve the best possible outcome for conservation.

A decade ago in Idaho, under the leadership of then-Gov. Risch, TU worked in collaboration with others to protect nearly 9 million acres of roadless public land—the most vital intact habitat for big game herds, wild cutthroat trout and, wild Snake River salmon and steelhead. Diverse interests came to the table and listened and learned what communities of place and interest needed. The result was Idaho’s roadless rule--a shining example of collaborative stewardship at work. 

This is the approach we must now take with Northwest salmon and steelhead if we are to save these fish that have, for generations, defined this region.

If we can agree that the ultimate goal of this effort is to restore wild runs of salmon and steelhead to the Columbia and Snake rivers, we must first start with science. 

Scientists say that at least 2 percent of the young fish migrating to the sea (smolts) must survive and return as adults for upriver salmon and steelhead stocks to sustain themselves. That has happened only a few times in the last two decades. To actually rebuild the populations, scientists say that 4-6 percent must return. In other words, the status quo ensures decline for these fish that define the Northwest.

Overwhelming scientific evidence supports removal of the four lower Snake River dams as the best way to recover Snake River salmon and steelhead. If there are other actions that can fix the deadly lower Snake River migration corridor, we are all ears. Finding a solution to the continued decline of Idaho’s salmon and steelhead will require looking at the needs of fish and local communities, together.

The government needs to follow Idaho’s lead and bring together farmers, tribes, states, conservation and energy interests, and local communities to save Idaho’s salmon and steelhead. Only in such a collaborative forum can the stakeholders identify steps that will simultaneously recover the fish and keep communities whole.

We know how to recover wild salmon and steelhead. And we know how to protect the economic well-being and quality of life of affected local communities. It’s time for the government to step up and do its part.  

The government needs to bring all of the affected interests to the table with a firm focus on what can be done to recover wild salmon while also helping potentially affected communities. Lurching from flawed federal plan to failed federal plan offers no potential for recovery. But it must happen quickly. Time is running out for our wild salmon and steelhead.

Chris Wood is the president and CEO of Trout Unlimited. He works from our Arlington, Va.-based headquarters.