By Jesse Piedfort, Washington State Sierra Club Director
Scientists agree that restoring abundant chinook salmon populations statewide is the highest priority for our orcas to survive and thrive. It’s a top priority for Sierra Club in this year’s legislative session. Here is what’s happening, and how you can help.
1. Protect Water Quality and Fish Habitat from Motorized Suction Dredge Mining
Long overdue legislation is moving forward to prohibit suction dredge mining in critical fish habitat. This terribly destructive practice -- using gas-powered dredges to vacuum up entire streambeds in search of gold -- is regulated in Oregon, California, and Idaho, but remains virtually unregulated in Washington. Time for that to end!
Send a note to your legislators asking them to protect our fisheries.
2. Fund Increased Spill At Federal Dams and a Lower Snake River Stakeholder Forum
Funding is needed for two critical actions, both of which were recommended by the Southern Resident Orca Task Force and included in Governor Inslee’s proposed budget.
Increased “spill” over the dams in the Snake and Columbia River is key to out-migrating juvenile salmon, increasing their survival rates. This means more salmon for orcas. We need the legislature to fund the Department of Ecology “rulemaking” for increased spill.
Funding is also needed to move toward removal of four lower Snake River dams which is the most important way to bolster salmon runs in the Columbia Basin back to abundance. Legislative funding for a stakeholder forum among potentially impacted communities, tribes, and Eastern Washington is critical to building the political support needed to achieve dam removal as soon as possible.
To get involved in our campaign for Snake River dam removal, email alex.craven@sierraclub.org.
3. Fix Outdated Regulations to Improve Near-Shore Salmon Habitat
Washington’s rules governing in-water development (think things like bulkheads, piers, and private docks) are out of date and don’t adequately protect fish and habitat. Near-shore habitat is critical for juvenile salmon, so fixing this permitting process will have a direct impact on salmon survival.
HB 1579, sponsored by Rep. Fitzgibbon, is the bill we’re supporting with this important regulatory fix. Want to help with our legislative advocacy?
Join our Legislative Action Team!