Today, Governor Jay Inslee issued a statement opposing H.R. 3144. If enacted, this federal legislation would prevent anyone from studying any action to reduce energy production at the lower Snake River dams, thus stopping investigation into increased water releases at federal dams, or “spill”, as well potential removal of outdated dams on the lower Snake River.
Robb Krehbiel, Northwest representative for Defenders of Wildlife, issued this statement:
“H.R. 3144 would lock in a failed status quo in the Columbia Basin, almost certainly leading to the extinction of Southern Resident orcas. Governor Inslee cares deeply about recovering both our orcas and our salmon, and we applaud the leadership he has shown today.
“Dam operations and salmon management in the Columbia Basin are in desperate need of updates. The Governor’s opposition to this ill-conceived bill shows his commitment to recovering salmon and reforming dam management in a way that benefits communities, salmon and orcas.”
For nearly 80 years, Defenders of Wildlife has worked to protect and restore America’s wildlife at risk of extinction, advancing a vision of a future in which wildlife thrives, sustained by broad public support and a resilient network of healthy lands and waters. With a network of more than 2 million supporters, Defenders is an advocate for innovative solutions to safeguard wildlife for generations to come. To learn more, please visit https://defenders.org/newsroom or follow us on Instagram @defendersofwildlife.
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