Northwest governors announce new commitment to Columbia-Snake rivers

Statement from American Rivers 

October 9, 2020 

Contact: Amy Kober, 503-708-1145 

The governors of Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana today released a letter stating their intent to work together to recover Columbia-Snake river salmon. Wendy McDermott, Northwest Director for American Rivers, made the following statement: 

“We appreciate the commitment of Northwest governors to recover Columbia and Snake river salmon and the communities that rely on them. There is no time to lose. Much of what we value in this region is at stake and the costs of decades of half-measures continue to mount. Salmon are facing extinction. Indigenous communities are living with a legacy of broken promises. River-dependent businesses are suffering. Communities need certainty. We need bold, urgent and moral leadership now.” 

“It’s critical that this new effort deliver clear steps and a timetable for achieving healthy, harvestable salmon runs, honoring commitments to Northwest tribes, strengthening our economy, and ensuring a future of reliable, affordable clean energy. A regional solution for salmon and river-dependent communities is within our grasp, and the Governors’ announcement is an essential first step.” 

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