Oregon Governor Kate Brown sent a letter to Washington Governor Jay Inslee on February 11th emphasizing removal of the Lower Snake River dams as the necessary long-term solution for salmon recovery.

January saw political processes related to salmon recovery resume in both Idaho and Washington. 

Late last December, Washington Governor Jay Inslee’s office released a draft Lower Snake River Dams Stakeholder Engagement Report. The report contained major takeaways gained from a months-long interview process. Interviewees provided differing responses to questions on what dam breaching would…

Last Thursday, 1/17, 36 people attended Idaho Rivers United’s Salmon Advocacy Workshop at Payette Brewing. The workshop focused on the history of the Lower Snake River, Idaho’s salmon and steelhead, and ways to engage in grassroots advocacy for salmon and steelhead restoration.

Originally published in the McCall Star News, January 19, 2020, 54TH YEAR, NO. 10, pg.4. Click Here to subscribe,

BY TOR ANDERSEN

There was a time when I thought the Stibnite Gold Project may be favorable for Valley County. After all, the proposed location is a previously impacted mine site and is predicted to create many jobs. However, we need to take a closer look at what the Stibnite Gold Project really has to offer.

The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruling on December 20th was an important victory for Idaho’s salmon and steelhead. This ruling ensures that federal environmental regulators will be forced to uphold the standards outlined in the Clean Water Act and lower water temperatures in the Columbia River.

Treasure Valley residents will feel the impacts of low steelhead runs in their own backyard this year. For the first time in 20 years, Boise locals won’t have the chance to reel in a steelhead on the Boise River. 

Echoing last year’s trends, the 2019 steelhead runs are reaching historic lows at roughly 40% of the 10-year average.

Earlier this year, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed drastic changes to the implementation of  Section 401 of the Clean Water Act (CWA). Idaho Rivers United worked with our coalition partners to review and submit comments on the proposed rule changes.

The Governor’s Salmon Work Group returned to Boise November 19th for their latest meeting. A condensed one day format began with discussions on the essential need for public comment opportunity at future meetings, something curiously not afforded to the public this time.

The Office of Species Conservation(OSC) released a media advisory on Wednesday, Nov 13th preceding the Salmon Workgroup meeting scheduled for Nov 19th in Boise. The advisory noted that the meeting will only be held for one day, and unlike other meetings held throughout the state, a public comment period has been eliminated from the agenda.

Idaho Governor Brad Little’s Salmon Work Group held their fourth meeting in Twin Falls over October 29th and 30th. The Work Group, which consists of a diverse array of stakeholders, has crisscrossed the state attempting to hash out policy recommendations for the Governor that will lead to meaningful salmon and steelhead recovery in Idaho.

On Oct 22, fifty-five unaffiliated scientists sent a letter to policymakers in Washington State, Idaho, and Oregon urging action to address high water temperatures resulting from reservoirs behind dams that severely impact salmon in the Columbia and Lower Snake Rivers.

IRU was excited to honor our 2019 Award Recipients at our 25th Annual Gala for the Rivers hosted at JUMP! on Oct. 17th, 2019. Each of these individuals and organizations has made invaluable contributions to IRU over the last year and has been integral to our work.