Federal Plan for dam operations fails Southern Resident orcas
Today, federal agencies released their final plan for the future management of 14 federal dams in the Columbia River Basin, including four dams on the Lower Snake River. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Bureau of Reclamation, and the Bonneville Power Administration released the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) on management alternatives, and the National Marine Fisheries Service determined that the selected plan will not put endangered salmon or Southern Resident orcas at risk. This conclusion is contrary to the views of leading independent scientists, who have concluded repeatedly that the status quo operation of dams in the Columbia Basin threatens salmon and orcas with extinction.
As members of the Orca Salmon Alliance (OSA), a coalition of groups dedicated to the recovery of the highly endangered Southern Resident orca population by restoring the salmon they depend on, we are deeply disappointed in the management plan approved by these federal agencies.
With the Southern Resident orcas on the edge of extinction and the recent announcement of several pregnant females in this fragile community, these orcas are desperately in need of abundant and available salmon to support these expectant mothers and ensure their calves are born healthy.
The “Preferred Alternative” will barely prevent the extinction of salmon and steelhead in the Columbia Basin and will continue to exacerbate the lack of available food for Southern Resident orcas. This plan falls far short of the bold, comprehensive, unified changes needed to ensure a future for these iconic Pacific Northwest species, our communities, and ecosystems.
Throughout the current review process, OSA has repeatedly requested that the federal agencies include information about Southern Resident orcas and the importance of Columbia Basin spring Chinook to this unique population of orcas. In response to the Draft EIS, OSA submitted official comments pointing out how the federal agencies underrepresented or completely ignored data that clearly show the connection between Southern Resident orcas and Columbia Basin Chinook. These high-fat spring Chinook provide a vital source of food to the orcas in their coastal habitat, and the majority of Chinook consumed in this part of the orcas’ range comes from the Columbia Basin.
As this unique community of orcas struggles to produce healthy calves and bounce back from their current near-historic low abundance, efforts to restore the salmon they rely on and provide the orcas with abundant and available food are more important than ever.
“The Southern Resident orcas need more salmon. Without enough to eat, the females are losing their calves and young males aren’t surviving long enough enough to reproduce. These whales simply cannot survive without more food. Our best opportunity to put more fish in the ocean for the Southern Residents is to restore a healthy Snake River.” - Dr. D.A. Giles, killer whale biologist, Science & Research Director for Wild Orca, OSA science advisor.
“This decision is a step in the wrong direction for Southern Resident orcas and salmon. Now is the time for our Pacific Northwest legislators to take leadership on this issue and outline a detailed and inclusive path forward. Across our region, concerned stakeholders are calling for changes to meet the goals of all affected communities: protecting and investing in local economies, continuing our region’s legacy of reliable and affordable clean energy, upholding obligations to Tribes, and restoring a healthy and thriving ecosystem.” - Robb Krehbiel, Defenders of Wildlife.
“While we hoped these agencies would make the right choice for orcas, salmon, and Columbia Basin communities, this review was rushed and ineffective, and disregarded the best available science on the importance of these salmon to Southern Resident orcas. This plan will not be able to achieve the broadscale change to restore salmon and orcas and support our communities.” - Colleen Weiler, Whale and Dolphin Conservation.
Today, federal agencies released their final plan for the future management of 14 federal dams in the Columbia River Basin, including four dams on the Lower Snake River. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Bureau of Reclamation, and the Bonneville Power Administration released the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) on management alternatives, and the National Marine Fisheries Service determined that the selected plan will not put endangered salmon or Southern Resident orcas at risk. This conclusion is contrary to the views of leading independent scientists, who have concluded repeatedly that the status quo operation of dams in the Columbia Basin threatens salmon and orcas with extinction.
As members of the Orca Salmon Alliance (OSA), a coalition of groups dedicated to the recovery of the highly endangered Southern Resident orca population by restoring the salmon they depend on, we are deeply disappointed in the management plan approved by these federal agencies.
With the Southern Resident orcas on the edge of extinction and the recent announcement of several pregnant females in this fragile community, these orcas are desperately in need of abundant and available salmon to support these expectant mothers and ensure their calves are born healthy.
The “Preferred Alternative” will barely prevent the extinction of salmon and steelhead in the Columbia Basin and will continue to exacerbate the lack of available food for Southern Resident orcas. This plan falls far short of the bold, comprehensive, unified changes needed to ensure a future for these iconic Pacific Northwest species, our communities, and ecosystems.
Throughout the current review process, OSA has repeatedly requested that the federal agencies include information about Southern Resident orcas and the importance of Columbia Basin spring Chinook to this unique population of orcas. In response to the Draft EIS, OSA submitted official comments pointing out how the federal agencies underrepresented or completely ignored data that clearly show the connection between Southern Resident orcas and Columbia Basin Chinook. These high-fat spring Chinook provide a vital source of food to the orcas in their coastal habitat, and the majority of Chinook consumed in this part of the orcas’ range comes from the Columbia Basin.
As this unique community of orcas struggles to produce healthy calves and bounce back from their current near-historic low abundance, efforts to restore the salmon they rely on and provide the orcas with abundant and available food are more important than ever.
“The Southern Resident orcas need more salmon. Without enough to eat, the females are losing their calves and young males aren’t surviving long enough enough to reproduce. These whales simply cannot survive without more food. Our best opportunity to put more fish in the ocean for the Southern Residents is to restore a healthy Snake River.” - Dr. D.A. Giles, killer whale biologist, Science & Research Director for Wild Orca, OSA science advisor.
“This decision is a step in the wrong direction for Southern Resident orcas and salmon. Now is the time for our Pacific Northwest legislators to take leadership on this issue and outline a detailed and inclusive path forward. Across our region, concerned stakeholders are calling for changes to meet the goals of all affected communities: protecting and investing in local economies, continuing our region’s legacy of reliable and affordable clean energy, upholding obligations to Tribes, and restoring a healthy and thriving ecosystem.” - Robb Krehbiel, Defenders of Wildlife.
“While we hoped these agencies would make the right choice for orcas, salmon, and Columbia Basin communities, this review was rushed and ineffective, and disregarded the best available science on the importance of these salmon to Southern Resident orcas. This plan will not be able to achieve the broadscale change to restore salmon and orcas and support our communities.” - Colleen Weiler, Whale and Dolphin Conservation.
