The Washington State Legislature yesterday appropriated $600,000 in its 2024-2025 Supplemental Operating Budget (SB 5950) to determine and examine leisure and conservation alternatives on the Lower Snake River upfront of any future federal determination to authorize breaching of the 4 federal decrease Snake River dams.
The new recreation examine joins a set of comparable research funded by the Legislature final 12 months to tell governing our bodies and the general public on infrastructure updates that might preserve and additional develop vitality, irrigation, and transportation choices if breaching have been to happen.
The Legislature’s proviso will guarantee federal funds can be utilized as a part of a cost sharing settlement between Washington state and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The cost sharing settlement was one a part of a December 2023 settlement on Columbia and Snake River basin restoration efforts between the Biden administration, Washington and Oregon State, 4 decrease Columbia Basin Tribes – the Nez Perce, Umatilla, Warm Springs and Yakama tribes, and Earthjustice and the fishing, conservation and renewable vitality teams it represents.
Earthjustice, American Rivers, Save Our Wild Salmon, Northwest Sportfishing Industry Association, and allies applaud Governor Inslee for together with the proviso in his funds, and the Legislature for making certain the funding was maintained within the supplemental working funds finalized and launched at this time. Following are statements from these organizations:
“By funding this important study, the Legislature is investing in our communities and taking another important step toward restoring the lower Snake River, protecting endangered salmon and honoring our treaty responsibilities to Tribal Nations,” mentioned Eric Gonzalez Alfaro, Policy Advocate with Earthjustice’s Northwest Office. “The public will need this information as we move forward with important choices for our region, and we applaud the Legislature for making this sage investment.”
“We know we can replace and modernize the transportation, energy, and irrigation services of the four lower Snake River dams, and we’re grateful Washington State began those important planning processes in 2023,” mentioned Tanya Riordan, Policy and Advocacy Director with Save Our Wild Salmon. “This additional recreational analysis will identify the cultural, recreation, and ecosystem improvements of a restored lower Snake River, significantly benefiting salmon, people, and communities across the region.”
“Fisheries managers tell us that recovery to healthy and abundant fish returns would, at a minimum, have substantial economic benefits, more than doubling the economic benefits of sportfishing to rural towns throughout the region,” mentioned Liz Hamilton, Policy Director for the Northwest Sportfishing Industry Association. “In 2022, the basin’s mainstem fisheries generated $50.6 million in direct expenditures. Restoring the basin is expected to generate approximately $125 million.”
“A free-flowing lower Snake River will restore 140 miles of spawning and rearing habitat and enable salmon and steelhead to recover”, mentioned Sarah Dyrdahl, American Rivers’ Northwest Regional Director. “Fifty years ago, before the dams were built, there were rapids in the river and farmland on the banks. Part of the river is in a deep, scenic canyon and we look forward to seeing what recreational opportunities a restored river will offer the region. American Rivers remains committed to working with everyone to find modern solutions to getting grain from SE Washington to the ocean ports, irrigating valuable crops, and generating and transmitting clean energy for the region.”
Background
Last 12 months, the Legislature offered $2 million in its 2023-2025 Operating Budget for a examine analyzing clear vitality alternative companies for the hydroelectric vitality now offered by the 4 decrease Snake River dams. The examine is how finest to switch the facility now offered by the dams in ways in which meet projected future energy calls for whereas diversifying and bettering the resilience of the facility system and bettering reliability and sustaining affordability. Another $5 million was allotted for an evaluation of the freeway, street and freight rail transportation wants and options to accommodate the remaining freight that also strikes by barge by way of the decrease Snake River dams. Barge transportation, notably, has declined by over 50% over the previous few many years. Finally, $500,000 in funding was allotted final 12 months for a examine easy methods to preserve irrigation companies alongside the decrease Snake River ought to a drawdown happen if breaching have been to be licensed.
All of these research allotted by the Legislature are ongoing and are scheduled to be accomplished throughout the subsequent few years.
