Fund the Lower Snake River Stakeholder Forum in the state budget

Last summer, the world watched as a grieving orca mother named Tahlequah carried her dead calf for 17 days. Scientists warn that this iconic Pacific northwestern species will not survive unless we take bold action to save it.

Why are orcas dying? Vessel noise and water pollution in the Puget Sound play a role, but primarily, scientists point to the disappearance of Chinook salmon -- the orcas' main food source.

Bringing together stakeholders to talk about how we can increase Chinook salmon is critical to orca and salmon recovery.

Subject: Fund the Lower Snake River stakeholder forum in the state budget

Your Letter:

I am writing to urge you to include funding for the Lower Snake River stakeholder forum in the state budget.

Orca scientists identify insufficient chinook salmon populations as the most urgent of the major threats facing orcas today. Dialogue among stakeholders is the best way for Washingtonians to develop a plan for our future and for Columbia Basin salmon and Southern Resident orcas.

In December, the governor announced his orca protection plan for the 2019 legislative session and included these two critical priorities for Columbia Basin salmon based on the Task Force recommendations:

(1) To increase 'spill' at federal dams to 125% total dissolved gas in order to significantly increase chinook salmon populations for orcas as soon as 2020.

(2) To convene a facilitated forum that brings together affected stakeholders to identify and detail critical elements of an infrastructure transition plan in advance of a potential decision to remove the Lower Snake River dams.

It is critical for the legislature to advance the Governor's Orca Recovery Task Force recommendations on increasing spill and convening stakeholders to talk about what we can do to increase Chinook salmon in Puget Sound. Without these steps, without a serious conversation about what needs to be done, and without substantive action to increase Chinook salmon populations, we could lose our orcas forever.

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