Federal and state agencies, Tribal governments, and stakeholders are working together to plan how to replace the services of the four lower Snake River dams. These planning efforts came about as a result of both the Washington state legislature and the Resilient Columbia Basin Agreement.
This blog dives deeper into the recreation sector and provides you with a way to take action!
Background:
Dams on the lower Snake River create a set of flatwater reservoirs that impact recreation both positively and negatively. Removing the dams would fundamentally alter the lower Snake River and also impact recreational opportunities both upstream and downstream.
The four large, flatwater reservoirs are used for certain kinds of recreation, including canoeing, power boating, and river cruises. However, these same reservoirs inundate 140 miles of free-flowing river that could support different recreational activities, including fishing, bird watching, kayaking, rafting, hiking, and jetboating. Furthermore, salmon populations rebuilt through dam breaching would provide fishing opportunities in the Pacific Ocean, the Columbia River, the Snake, throughout tributaries like the Clearwater, Salmon, and Grande Ronde rivers.
The recreation study was first approved by the Washington Legislature in 2024, which funded the Washington state Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO) to analyze how breaching the lower Snake River dams would both benefit and harm recreational opportunities in the region. As a result of the Resilient Columbia Basin Agreement, the US Army Corps of Engineers will assist the RCO in its efforts.
Update and an Urgent Take Action!
In November 2024, the RCO opened an online survey for those with recreational experiences along the lower Snake River and throughout the Snake River basin. The survey’s purpose is to capture insights on current and potential future recreation activities, preferences, and accessibility needs.
We need supporters to fill out this survey from their own experiences, and also help the RCO envision the vast benefits a free-flowing river could have for regional recreation and the local economy. You have the chance to share what a healthy, restored river could mean for you, your family, your community, and/or your business.
SURVEY RESPONSES ARE DUE BY DECEMBER 15th, 2024! See suggestions for filling the survey out below. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SnakeRiverRec
General:
- Describe your interest in learning more about the history, cultural significance, and importance of the river to Tribes and local communities through interpretive information in the restored river corridor.
- Describe how you and your family or community would like to experience a restored lower Snake River and the beauty of a healthy ecosystem
- Share your experience and connection to this landscape, and perhaps the shared values of appreciating and utilizing public lands, self-reliance, and ensuring a healthy landscape legacy for generations to come.
Fishing:
Removing the four lower Snake River dams will open 140 miles of potential mainstem spawning habitat for Fall Chinook, greatly increasing ocean sport fisheries in Buoy 10, Marine Area 1 and off the entire Washington coastline.
There are scientific models suggesting that restoring salmon and steelhead abundance to the Snake River basin would more than double the amount of time the mainstem Columbia River is open to sportfishing. For instance, average returns of Spring Chinook would resemble the returns in 2001 and 2002. A sockeye fishery could reopen in the mainstem, and many of the restrictions on Spring, Summer and Fall Chinook would be lifted.
- How would these increases in abundance affect your business, employees, unit sales, and local economy?
Hunting/Birding
Prior to the four lower Snake River dams’ construction, the area was a diverse landscape providing opportunities to hunt and bird watch.
A free-flowing Lower Snake River could become a premier destination for outdoor recreation, opening up 140 miles of class II-III whitewater, fishing, and hunting. Species like Chinook salmon, Pacific sturgeon, chukar, mule deer, and more would return to the restored riparian zone.
- Are you and your family avid bird hunters in this area? A restored river will lead to more wildlife returning along with healthier habitat for chukars, quail, ducks, and geese to name a few species.
- Are you interested in birding and being able to have improved access on new trails to restored meadows, prairies, and wetland, riparian and high desert environments to bird watch?
Kayaking/Rafting:
A free-flowing lower Snake River will provide at least 66 named whitewater rapids and increased opportunities to explore the river basin using different watercrafts.
- Are you a paddler, outdoor enthusiast or river guide who would enjoy rafting or kayaking a free-flowing river and experience the historical rapids underneath the existing reservoirs?
- How would additional rafting/kayaking opportunities impact you, your family, business, and community?
Business/Economic Benefits and Impacts:
Outfitters in Idaho and Washington could expand their businesses and develop hunting, fishing, and boating operations on this reopened stretch of river. This would create a large boost to local rural economies.
- Are you a business owner or employee who relies on commercial or recreation activities enhanced by a healthy free flowing river?
- The cruise ship industry is small and far outweighed by the value of both a restored salmon/steelhead fishery, and the new recreational benefits.
- One concern about dam breach raised in the 2022 Inslee-Murray Report is that a free-flowing Snake River could be more rugged and less accessible to people with mobility issues. Outfitting provides accessibility to the public regardless of age or ability and would allow those with mobility limitations to access the river corridor.
Historic and Cultural Resources:
The lower Snake River basin includes two national park units and several state parks dedicated to the history and cultures in the landscape, including area Tribes, agriculture, and the Lewis & Clark Corps of Discovery expedition.
- What kind of cultural and historic interpretation and education would you like to see in the landscape? Public art?
More sections for energy, irrigation, and transportation studies are in development. Check back here for more updates, or sign up for ICL Salmon & Steelhead updates to get this news delivered right to your inbox!