Efforts to improve and maintain salmon and steelhead populations in Oregon and the Pacific Northwest are continuing to progress after a regional agreement was reached.
Last year’s agreement to avoid litigation over dams in the Columbia River Basin was celebrated at the White House by the governors of Washington and Oregon, along with four Native American tribal leaders.
In December, an agreement was announced after years of negotiation among the states, tribes in the region, environmental groups, and federal agencies. This agreement aims to revive the salmon and steelhead populations in the area and includes a 10-year pause in legal disputes.
The White House held a signing ceremony on Friday, February 23, where governors, tribal leaders, and a few administration officials came together. It is important to note that the deal had already been in effect since the parties signed a memorandum of agreement back in December.
According to administration representatives and other experts, the agreement served as a crucial requirement outlined in treaties with tribes, aiming to tackle the declining fish populations and revitalize the overall health of the river basin. However, it should be noted that this agreement signifies the commencement of a lengthy process, rather than its conclusion.
“We still have a lot of work ahead of us to fulfill our commitments and meet the expectations set by the president’s memorandum of agreement,” emphasized Brenda Mallory, Chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality. “However, I am confident that our collaborative efforts will pave the way for our success.”
Oregon Governor Tina Kotek urged the federal government, tribes, and participating states to remain committed to the principles outlined in the compact. While reaching the agreement was a significant achievement, Governor Kotek emphasized the importance of further efforts to fulfill the commitments made in the deal.
Kotek expressed his joy, stating that this moment is filled with happiness. However, he emphasized that this is only the start of something greater.
Tribal commitment
The agreement aims to fulfill federal commitments made to tribes, including the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon, and the Nez Perce Tribe. These commitments ensure the tribes’ access to abundant fishing opportunities for generations to come.
Jonathan W. Smith, Chairman of the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon, emphasized that the treaty signed in the 19th century, which involved the relinquishment of a significant portion of the tribes’ land to the federal government, guaranteed perpetual fishing rights. According to the treaty, fish would always be accessible in the tribe’s ancestral regions.
In recent decades, he noted that the longhouses that hold tribal ceremonies “have had empty tables.”
He expressed his concern about the lack of fish that has been affecting their ability to sustain themselves and pass on their cultural knowledge to the younger generation.
Governor Jay Inslee expressed his gratitude to the tribal members for their role as protectors of the salmon.
According to him, the Columbia River holds great importance for both Native and non-Native residents in his state. He emphasizes the need to prioritize the overall health of the river basin going forward.
He expressed a personal connection to the issue, stating, “This is personal with me and 8 million Washingtonians.” He emphasized the significance of the artery of their state and stressed the urgency to restore its health.
In the more rural and Republican areas of the state, the agreement continues to be a topic of controversy.
Inslee, an esteemed climate advocate, also positioned the agreement as a crucial component in the broader mission to tackle the impacts of climate change.
Deputy U.S. Energy Secretary David Turk commended Inslee, a Democratic presidential nominee in 2020, during the White House event for his invaluable contribution to shaping the foundation of the Biden administration’s climate policy.
Republicans express concerns over the possibility of dam removal
Republicans in the region have generally been skeptical, if not outright hostile, to the agreement, viewing it as a potential step towards removing dams on the Snake River in eastern Washington.
Last month, U.S. House Energy and Commerce Chair, Cathy McMorris Rodgers, from Washington state, expressed her disapproval of the “secret deal” during a hearing. She criticized the exclusion of utilities, hydropower users, agriculture, and other affected industries in the area.
During the hearing, Rodgers expressed concerns that removing four Snake River dams – Ice Harbor Dam, Lower Monumental Dam, Little Goose Dam, and Lower Granite Dam – would have negative consequences on the region’s clean-energy production, flood control capability, and overall economy.
During her testimony, Mallory emphasized that Congress would ultimately be responsible for deciding whether or not to remove the dam.