Statement of Disclosure: In this diary and comment thread I am posting in my capacity as Road Show Organizer for Save Our Wild Salmon. Other diaries and commentary are strictly mine and do not represent the views of Save Our Wild Salmon.
Save Our Wild Salmon, a national coalition of conservation organizations, commercial and sportfishing associations, businesses, river groups and taxpayer advocates, will be coming to The Bay Area this week. Traveling 10,000 miles through 20 states, the Wild Salmon Road Show brings attention to the plight of endangered wild salmon and steelhead in the Pacific Northwest, and build support for removing the four lower Snake River dams in Washington State.
Follow me over the jump to meet the star of the show, Fin, a 25' steel and fiberglass salmon!
We have an emergency on our hands, and it is a coast-wide problem. From the Sacramento to the Klamath, to the Columbia-Snake River Basin in the Pacific Northwest, our native fish populations are in crisis due to federal mismanagement of our natural resources, and this administration’s blatant disregard for the Endangered Species Act, which is supposed to protect these fish. We are driving across the country to sound the alarm that West Coast salmon and communities need our help now!
The collapse Sacramento River fishery this year is one more example of a critical natural resource in desperate need of leadership. Across the coast — in California, Oregon and Washington — our largest and most important watersheds are in dramatic decline. It is no accident that both our salmon stocks and our coastal communities are struggling for survival. We need Congressional oversight to ensure that federal agencies uphold the law and ensure that they develop policies based on the best scientific and economic information.
The federal government has failed miserably. We need Congressional leadership across the coast and the country, particularly in the Pacific Northwest, to ensure that the upcoming Federal Salmon Plan for the Columbia and Snake Rivers will finally protect and restore wild salmon and steelhead to healthy, abundant and sustainable populations. Billions of public dollars have been wasted over the last two decades while populations have continued to plummet toward extinction.
Science shows dam removal is essential to the recovery of Columbia Basin salmon runs, which will become even more important as global warming and other environmental factors impact West Coast salmon runs. Salmon from Washington, Oregon and California ply the same West Coast fishing grounds so a major decline in runs on one of these major salmon rivers in any given year impacts the livelihoods of fishermen up and down the coast.
Ultimately, these issues and our policy decisions today are about our communities and the values we hold as a region and nation. This salmon is here today to represent an iconic symbol of the American West and remind everyone that when we speak about environmental protection and species like Snake River salmon, we are also talking about a national treasure that provides us with good jobs and healthy food.
Congress has the power to put us on the path to recovery — one that includes stable jobs, clean, affordable energy, good fishing, abundant salmon, and places in the outdoors for our families to enjoy. To get their attention on Capitol Hill, we're taking the star of our show all the way to Washington D.C. She's sure to turn a few heads. Without further ado, here's Fin at Sunnyside School in Portland, OR.
Each individual we can reach who appreciates what we have in wild Pacific salmon represents a potential advocate for the healthy habitat, healthy rivers and access to spawning grounds wild salmon and steelhead need in order to thrive.
We know America is full of salmon and steelhead champions, and we look forward to meeting as many of you as possible through this tour.
We will be at events over the next week.
Saturday 4/19
Novato, Ca
12-2
Scottsdale Pond, Trout Unlimited First Cast Day for Kids.
Berkley, Ca
3-5 PM
Earthday Festival
Sunday 4/20
San Francisco, Ca
Aquarium By The Bay/Earthfest, Pier 39
Sunday, April 20, from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.
We'll be doing salmon in the classroom over the week, and then at the Davis Farmer's Market.
Saturday 4/26
Davis, CA
Davis Farmer's Market
9am-2pm
Saturday 4/26
San Francisco, CA
Hotel Utah
500 4thst
Please join us at any of these events. We will be ciruclating postcards which we will hand deliver to congress.
Posted to Daily Kos Environmentalists