10/22/21

Contact: Amy Souers Kober, 503-708-1145

Following Senator Patty Murray’s (D-WA) announcement today of a “federal-state process on salmon recovery in the Columbia River Basin and the Pacific Northwest” with Governor Jay Inslee (D-WA), American Rivers called on all Northwest leaders and the Biden Administration to accelerate action including removal of the four dams on the lower Snake River in eastern Washington.

Wendy McDermott, Puget Sound-Columbia Basin Director of American Rivers, made the following statement:

“Extinction is staring us in the face. It’s now or never for meaningful action to recover the Columbia and Snake basin’s iconic wild salmon and steelhead runs and invest in the region’s future. We welcome Sen. Murray and Gov. Inslee’s statements and we urge them and all Northwest leaders to go further. We must heed the calls of Northwest Tribes for immediate investment and action toward a comprehensive solution that includes restoring a free-flowing lower Snake River. Anything short of that fails Tribes, salmon-dependent communities and economies, and this river that is the lifeblood of our region.”

“We named the Snake River America’s Most Endangered River® of 2021 because decisions made this year will determine the river’s fate. Senator Murray and Governor Inslee’s leadership is critical to advancing the solutions needed to restore abundant salmon and honor treaties and commitments to Tribes, while ensuring equitable, low-carbon energy, vibrant agriculture and a strong regional economy. Now is the time for Northwest leaders and the Biden Administration to seize the short window of opportunity during the temporary pause in litigation and embrace the need for a free flowing lower Snake River, address longstanding injustice, and set the region on a path toward a stronger future.”

Today’s news follows yesterday’s announcement from a coalition of fishing and conservation groups including American Rivers, with three federal agencies, the State of Oregon and the Nez Perce Tribe asking a judge to pause until next summer litigation challenging the latest federal plan for hydropower operations on the Snake and Columbia Rivers. The parties have committed to work together to develop and implement a comprehensive, long-term solution to benefit endangered salmon and steelhead and that could resolve the long-running litigation over Columbia and Snake River dam operations. The proposed stay will last until July 31, 2022.

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September 29, 2021

Contact: Amy Souers Kober, 503-708-1145

American Rivers announced today that Kelly Catlett has been selected to lead the organization’s hydropower program. Catlett brings nearly 20 years of experience in hydropower policy, dam relicensing, and coalition building.

As Hydropower Reform Program Director, Catlett will direct American Rivers’ efforts to support healthy, free-flowing rivers by reforming hydropower dam operations, protect rivers from new hydropower projects and engage in opportunities to restore and reconnect rivers. Catlett will work in close partnership with the Hydropower Reform Coalition to advocate for improved federal policy and engage in hydropower relicensing efforts to secure better outcomes for rivers and the people who depend on them.      

“Few things have a greater impact on a river than a hydropower dam,” said Tom Kiernan, President of American Rivers. “Kelly has the expertise and experience to lead our efforts to ensure that every hydropower dam meets the highest standards for environmental health and justice and to accelerate the restoration of healthy, free-flowing rivers nationwide. We are thrilled she is joining our team.”

Most recently, Catlett served as associate western states director for the Hydropower Reform Coalition. Before that, she led hydropower reform and policy advocacy      efforts at the California Hydropower Reform Coalition, Defenders of Wildlife and Friends of the River. She attended the University of California at Davis and received her Juris Doctor from the California Western School of Law.

“Hydropower reform is a powerful tool to protect and restore rivers.  I have had the privilege to work most of my career in hydropower licensing and I have seen firsthand the positive change this tool can achieve on rivers all over the country,” said Kelly Catlett. “I believe passionately in both the mission of American Rivers and in hydropower reform and I look forward to helping American Rivers protect and restore the rivers that connect us all.”

September 3, 2021

Contact: Amy Kober, akober@americanrivers.org, 503-708-1145

Hurricane Ida’s heavy winds and rain brought destruction to the Gulf Coast on August 29 and days later, communities across the Northeast were devastated by flooding in the hurricane’s path. Dozens of people lost their lives in the floodwaters. Three thousand people in Johnstown, Pennsylvania had to evacuate Wednesday due to the threat of failure at Wilmore Dam on the Little Conemaugh River.

Brian Graber, senior director of river restoration at American Rivers, made the following statement:

“It is heartbreaking to see the damage from Hurricane Ida and our thoughts are with everyone who has been impacted by the flooding.

We must protect communities in the face of increasingly severe floods fueled by climate change. Hurricane Ida is yet another wake-up call. We urgently need solutions that are equitable, nature-based, and resilient in the face of climate change.

Congress has an opportunity in the infrastructure bill and reconciliation package to take important steps to protect public safety. This includes giving rivers and floodways more room to keep people out of harm’s way and improving urban stormwater management. It also includes investing in dam safety and dam removal to improve public safety and enhance the ability of rivers to carry and absorb floodwaters. Many aging dams are ticking time bombs, and dam failure can cause tremendous loss to life and property.

We urge Speaker Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Schumer to make investment in dam safety, river restoration and water infrastructure a top priority in the infrastructure and reconciliation efforts.”Flooding, dam scare underscore need for investment in water infrastructure, dam safety, river restorationWe urge Speaker Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Schumer to make investment in dam safety, river restoration and water infrastructure a top priority in the infrastructure and reconciliation efforts.”

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August 25, 2021 

Contact: Olivia Dorothy, 217-390-3658 

Amy Kober, 503-708-1145 

American Rivers filed a Title VI complaint against the Upper Mississippi River Basin Association (UMRBA) on May 26, 2021 because we believe that UMRBA has failed to support communities of color in participating in the development of programs, projects and policies related to flooding along the Mississippi River, particularly surrounding the development of UMRBA’s ‘Keys to the River’ study.  

Black, Latino, Indigenous and Hmong communities along the Mississippi River bear the brunt of the worst flood damage, yet UMRBA is not including these communities in the development of solutions. It is essential that UMRBA reforms its approach and creates a more inclusive public participation process for flood management planning. We must put an end to discriminatory practices that fail to engage the very communities who suffer disproportionately from flooding. 

UMRBA, which represents the Governors of Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, receives funding from the Environmental Protection Agency and Army Corps of Engineers. Title VI prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin in any program or activity that receives Federal funds or other Federal financial assistance. 

Black, Latino, Indigenous and Hmong communities must have a seat at the table to drive equitable, lasting solutions along the Mississippi River. American Rivers will continue to work to ensure that flood management solutions prioritize safety and well-being for all. 

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National Marine Fisheries Service and US Fish and Wildlife Service withdraw Trump-era decision, put salmon and steelhead back on track for recovery in the Lewis River

August 24, 2021

CONTACT:
Eli Asher, Cowlitz Indian Tribe, 360-355-5851
Bill Sharp, The Confederated Bands and Tribes of the Yakama Nation, 509-945-3167
Kessina Lee, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, 360-605-9763
Amy Kober, American Rivers, 503-708-1145

(Portland, Oregon) – On July 27, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) (collectively, “Services”) withdrew a Trump-era preliminary determination which, if made final, would have allowed PacifiCorp to continue blocking access to critical salmon habitat in Washington’s Lewis River for the foreseeable future.

The Cowlitz Indian Tribe, the Confederated Bands and Tribes of the Yakama Nation, and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), along with American Rivers, Columbia Riverkeeper, and Trout Unlimited warmly welcome the Services’ decision and view it as a critical step to recovering Endangered Species Act-listed fish in the Lewis River, an important tributary to the lower Columbia River.

PacifiCorp (a Berkshire Hathaway, Inc. subsidiary) operates three dams on the North Fork Lewis River. For over 80 years, these dams have blocked fish passage to over 100 miles of quality salmon and steelhead habitat and have destroyed generations of anadromous fish. 

In 2004, PacifiCorp promised the Cowlitz Tribe and the Yakama Nation (along with numerous federal and state governments and non-governmental organizations) that it would provide fish passage at each dam to reintroduce salmon and steelhead throughout the upper Lewis River. In exchange, the tribes and others agreed not to oppose the renewal of the dam licenses. In 2008, this Settlement Agreement was officially made part of PacifiCorp’s renewed licenses from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to operate the Lewis River dams for the next 50 years, the maximum term allowed.

Under the Trump administration, PacifiCorp sought to exploit a provision in the Settlement Agreement that would relieve them of their fish passage obligations and instead allow them to pursue habitat restoration projects in the Lewis River watershed above the dams. This process would provide enormous cost savings to the utility, while imposing an incalculable cost to salmon recovery. In 2019, the Services issued a preliminary determination that PacifiCorp did not need to construct fish passage as promised, but instead could pursue these much cheaper habitat restoration projects. This determination came despite strong objections of other signatories to the Settlement Agreement, who subsequently contested the Services’ decision.

In their recent notice of withdrawal, the Services explained that their decision to withdraw the Trump-era policy comes after a thorough reevaluation of the information submitted to them by PacifiCorp. The Services write that “further consideration has identified critical uncertainties” in the evidence used by PacifiCorp to dispute the need for fish passage.

The Services’ return to sound science indicates a brighter future for Lewis River and Columbia River salmon, and honors commitments made to tribes who continue to manage and rely on salmon that are central to their cultural identity.

“The Yakama Nation stands vindicated by the Services’ recent decision to again require passage for endangered fish populations within the Lewis River Basin,” said Yakama Nation Fish and Wildlife Committee Chairman Gerald Lewis. “It remains clear that generations of salmon and other anadromous fish have died at the base of these structures. If PacifiCorp and other hydropower dam operators do not build passage for these fish now, these native fish resources will die. The Yakama Nation will therefore continue to work with PacifiCorp to ensure promises are kept and fish passage is provided so that our People can continue to conduct commercial, ceremonial, cultural, and subsistence fishing within this tributary.”

“The Cowlitz Indian Tribe are the Forever People. Since the beginning of time, we have nurtured our community by stewarding our land and rivers,” said Cowlitz Indian Tribe Chairman David Barnett. “It is our legacy, and we stand ready and eager to collaborate with PacifiCorp and other parties to the settlement on the important work of implementing full fish passage throughout the entire Lewis River.”

The Services have committed to engaging the Licensees and other settlement agreement signatories (including WDFW, the Cowlitz Tribe, Yakama Nation, Trout Unlimited, and American Rivers) to develop the path forward.

“We look forward to working with PacifiCorp on forthcoming efforts to implement fish passage and honor commitments to local communities in a timely manner,” said Kessina Lee, Southwest Regional Director for WDFW. “Providing full fish passage past the dams on the Lewis River will significantly contribute to salmon recovery in the lower Columbia River, and it serves as a beacon of hope and progress for salmon recovery in the Pacific Northwest.”

“We are encouraged by the Services’ return to the stipulations laid out under the 2004 Settlement Agreement,” said Wendy McDermott, Puget Sound-Columbia Basin Director for American Rivers. “By signing the agreement, PacifiCorp committed to building fish passage for the benefit of salmon and steelhead recovery in the Lewis and Columbia rivers. We are eager to see these fish return to their historical habitat and look forward to working with all parties to accomplish this license condition.”

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August 16, 2021 

Contact: Matt Rice, 803-422-5244 

Amy Kober, 503-708-1145 

Denver, CO — Today, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, the federal agency that oversees Colorado River operations, declared a “Tier 1” water shortage at Lake Mead on the Colorado River, underscoring the severity of the deepening drought and climate crisis across the West. This is the first time in the river’s history that a Tier 1 shortage has been declared.  

The declaration will result in reduced water deliveries from the Colorado River to Arizona, Nevada, and Mexico, and will trigger Drought Contingency Plans throughout the Lower Basin. The shortage conditions from the 2019 Drought Contingency Plan will go into effect starting in January 2022, but emergency actions in the Colorado Basin are already underway, as three reservoirs – Flaming Gorge in Wyoming, Blue Mesa in Colorado, and Navajo Reservoir in Colorado/New Mexico – are already releasing water to help slow the rapid decline of water levels in Lake Powell.  

Matt Rice, Colorado River Basin Director for American Rivers, made the follow statement: 

“While today’s declaration is not a surprise, it is the loudest alarm bell yet. We must start using less water, and we must find ways to do more with less water. The Colorado River is the lifeblood of our region and we must start living within our means. The only way through this crisis is with a strong plan and real leadership throughout the basin.” 

“These reductions will hurt, but we must use this moment to double down on lasting solutions including urban and industrial water conservation and re-use, agricultural efficiency, and prioritizing headwaters forest health and restoration. We can support economic, agricultural and community needs, provide certainty for river users, and ensure a healthy future for the Colorado River.” 

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American Rivers statement on bipartisan infrastructure bill 

August 10, 2021 

Contact: Amy Souers Kober, 503-708-1145 

American Rivers applauds the Senate and the Biden Administration for advancing a bipartisan infrastructure bill that makes critical investments for clean water and rivers. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (H.R. 3684) includes $55 billion for water infrastructure — the largest investment in clean drinking water and wastewater in our nation’s history.  American Rivers urges the House of Representatives to quickly pass this critical infrastructure package which provides essential benefits for communities nationwide.   

Notably, H.R. 3684 provides over $43 billion for the Drinking Water and Clean Water State Revolving Funds. This investment will fund lead service line replacement ($15 billion), grants for small and disadvantaged communities ($510 million), sewer overflow and stormwater reuse grants ($1.4 billion), and the Indian Reservation drinking water program ($250 million), as well as studies on advanced clean water technologies and historical distribution of funds to disadvantaged communities. 

The bill also includes $1.6 billion for dam removal and dam safety — a necessary down payment for restoring healthy, free-flowing rivers and protecting communities from outdated, dangerous dams. Additionally, there is $753 million for environmental improvements, dam safety, and grid resilience at hydropower dams. Other sizeable investments include $3.5 billion for Flood Mitigation Assistance, $1 billion for Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities, $1.5 billion for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers aquatic ecosystem restoration projects. 

Western Water Infrastructure would receive $8.3 billion, funding programs related to aging water infrastructure, water storage, water recycling and reuse, the waterSMART program, and drought contingency plans. 

While these dollars are a promising start, substantial investment will be needed in the forthcoming reconciliation package. Our 2021 Blueprint for Action outlines the need for $200 billion to improve water infrastructure, $200 billion to modernize flood management, and $100 billion to restore watersheds nationwide. 

Tom Kiernan, President of American Rivers, made the following statement: 

“This historic investment underscores the importance of clean water and healthy rivers to our nation’s infrastructure and our future. I commend the Senate for the bipartisan cooperation that made this legislation possible.”  

“If you are a parent worried about the safety of your child’s drinking water, if you live downstream of an obsolete dam, if you’re a fisherman whose livelihood depends on a healthy river, or a rancher worried about your water supplies, you will benefit from investments in this infrastructure bill. At a time when climate change is impacting our rivers and water in ways that are impossible to ignore, this funding will help protect and strengthen communities nationwide. 

“We applaud Senators Carper and Capito for passing S.914, the Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Act (DWWIA), which served as the foundation for the clean water funding and provisions in H.R. 3684. These funds will begin to address longstanding inequities around access to clean, safe, affordable drinking water in Black, Latino and Indigenous communities. We also recognize Senator Rob Portman for his leadership ensuring the infrastructure bill includes necessary investments in dam removal and dam safety.” ###

August 9, 2021 

Contact: Amy Souers Kober, 503-708-1145 

Today’s release of the first part of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s sixth assessment report – called a “code red for humanity” by the United Nations – details how the impacts of climate change, including floods and drought, are real and will get worse without bold action.  

Tom Kiernan, President and CEO of American Rivers, made the following statement: 

“Devastating examples of the climate crisis are already playing out on our rivers. We must not only drastically reduce emissions to avoid the worst of climate impacts but also protect and restore rivers to buffer communities from the impacts that are already upon us. 

From persistent drought and smaller snowpack reducing river flows across the Southwest, to rising temperatures killing Northwest salmon and increasingly frequent and severe floods in the Midwest and Eastern states, frontline river communities are feeling the pain. Black, Latino and Indigenous communities face disproportionately higher impacts due to centuries of disinvestment and unjust policies and practices. 

But just as rivers embody climate threats, they’re also the source of powerful solutions. A healthy river should be a community’s first line of defense against climate impacts, offering clean water supplies, cost-effective flood protection, safe places to recreate and stay cool, sustainable food and connection to culture.  

The IPCC report gives the most detailed look yet at how climate change is impacting rivers and the water cycle. Decision makers must use the information in the report to take swift, bold action to prioritize protection and restoration of healthy free-flowing rivers, ensuring frontline communities drive equitable solutions.  

Rivers have always been a source of hope and strength. Now, the stakes couldn’t be higher. In an era of climate change, communities with healthy, free-flowing rivers with clean water will be the ones that thrive. We must insist that all communities, and not just a privileged few, benefit from healthy rivers now and in the decades to come.” 

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American Rivers statement on injunction request for additional spill and reservoir drawdowns

July 16, 2021
Contact: Amy Souers Kober, 503-708-1145

American Rivers joined a coalition of fishing and conservation groups represented by Earthjustice, filing an injunction request in court today for stop-gap measures to aid migrating endangered salmon and steelhead. 

The request calls for “spilling” water over dams on the Columbia and Snake rivers to help flush juvenile fish downstream during a critical stage in their lifecycle as they migrate to the ocean. The groups are also seeking lowered reservoir levels to help speed fish migration through stagnant reservoirs that can reach lethally high temperatures.

Tom Kiernan, President and CEO of American Rivers, made the following statement:

“Salmon in the Columbia and Snake rivers are in crisis. Northwest tribes and salmon-dependent communities have been inequitably bearing the burden as dam operations and climate change drive salmon closer to extinction. With soaring temperatures putting additional stress on endangered salmon, short-term measures like additional spill are essential to their survival. We must also take bold and urgent action to build a better future in the Northwest that includes healthy and abundant salmon runs. That means heeding the calls of the Nez Perce Tribe, the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians and the National Congress of American Indians for a comprehensive solution that invests in salmon and river restoration including removing the four lower Snake River dams, strengthens the region and honors treaties and commitments to Native people.”

With lowest flows in history, swims 40 miles in 14 hours and 36 minutes 

Contact: Amy Kober, 503-708-1145          
July 6, 2021               

CANYONLANDS, UT,– On June 27, 2021, communication strategist, author, long distance swimmer, and co-chair of the Colorado River Basin Council for American Rivers, Matthew Moseley, 54, of Boulder, Colorado, did the first-ever recorded swim of the Green River in Canyonlands to raise awareness of climate change induced drought. Moseley swam 40 miles in 14 hours and 36 minutes in the lowest river flows ever recorded. (See Observers Log below) 

This stretch of the Green River, from Mineral Bottom to the confluence with the Colorado River, is the ancestral territory of the Ute and other native tribes. 

The Green River would normally be flowing at around 5,000-6,000 cfs (cubic feet per second), but was a mere 1,800 cfs during the swim. On many strokes Moseley scraped the bottom of the river and other times had to walk across sandbars and rocks because the water was too shallow, impossible to swim.  

“We applaud Matt Moseley for embracing this challenge and for his commitment to saving the rivers we all depend on,” said Matt Rice, Colorado River Basin Director for American Rivers. “While climate change is making the Colorado River Basin hotter and drier, we can protect healthy rivers and water supplies if we work together to manage these precious resources wisely. Native tribes throughout the basin, as well as forward-thinking cities, ranchers and others, are providing the leadership we need.” 

Following a predetermined safety plan, in the end, with darkness coming on, there simply wasn’t the flow, light or the time to keep swimming to the confluence with the Colorado River, another 12 miles away. Moseley exited the water at 7:32 pm after starting at first light at 4:54 am.   

“While the swim is a first, more importantly, our expedition was a vessel to tell the story of what is happening to water in the West,” said Moseley. “We are in a severe drought. Perhaps this is the new normal? Some say it is the “aridification” of the West. I saw firsthand what happens when the river starts dying. I know how the fish feels when it gets washed out.” 

The Colorado River’s Lake Powell reservoir is approaching dangerously low levels where Glen Canyon Dam will be unable to operate. This matters because over 40 million people depend upon the Colorado River Basin for their water and power. 

Moseley was joined for the swim by Matt Rice, Colorado Basin Director for American Rivers, Mark Williams as the lead support kayaker and Mike Fiebig of American Rivers, as the lead navigator in the canoe and the overall trip lead. The 16-person team was carried by five rafts and then ran the rapids of Cataract Canyon following the swim. 

The team included river legends Mike Dehoff and Meg Flynn, who started the Returning Rapids Project. They showed old features of the Colorado River in Cataract Canyon that are being revealed through the sediment as Lake Powell diminishes. They are matching old photographs from river runners with rapids that are coming back to life after the sediment washes away.  

The Green River Swim 2021 was made possible by support from Bobo’s Oat Bars, Epic Water Filters, Nite Ize, RovR Products, Phil Lewis Art, Liberty Puzzles, Mighty Arrow Foundation (New Belgium Brewing.) and Valle Rafts. Moseley was coached by Xterra World Champion, Josiah Middaugh. 

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ABOUT AMERICAN RIVERS: 

American Rivers believes a future of clean water and healthy rivers for everyone, everywhere is essential. Since 1973, we have protected wild rivers, restored damaged rivers and conserved clean water for people and nature. With headquarters in Washington, D.C., and 300,000 supporters, members and volunteers across the country, we are the most trusted and influential river conservation organization in the United States, delivering solutions for a better future. Because life needs rivers. www.AmericanRivers.org  

ABOUT THE SWIMMER: 

Matthew L. Moseley is a communication strategist, author, speaker and world record adventure swimmer. He is the author of “Ignition: Superior Communication Strategies for Creating Stronger Connections” by Routledge/Taylor&Francis publishing, 2021. He has spent his career at the intersection of public policy, business and government and has managed many public affairs projects and campaigns for organizations and companies. He is the principal and CEO of the Ignition Strategy Group, which specializes in high-stakes communications and issue management for the biggest companies in the world to the smallest organizations. He is the author of Dear Dr. Thompson: Felony Murder, Hunter S. Thompson and the Last Gonzo Campaign. He has completed five first-ever record adventure swims and is the subject of the documentary, Dancing in the Waterabout his 25 mile swim across Lake Pontchartrain in New Orleans. He is the co-chair of the Colorado River Basin Council for American Rivers and is member of the Advisory Board of the Center for Leadership at the University of Colorado at Boulder. He lives in Boulder, Colorado, with his wife, water rights attorney, Kristin Moseley, and their children, Charles and Amelia. 

Green River Swim Observer’s Log 
Sunday, June 27, 2021 
Recorded by Mike Fiebig 
For World Open Water Swimming Association 

We pushed off from Mineral Bottom at 4:54 AM on July 27, 2021, at mile marker 52 on the Stillwater Canyon section of the Green River. Water temps went from approx. 71º to 76º F that day. Air temps were 65º to 95º F. The river was flowing at approximately 1800-2000 cfs. These stats can be found at the Green River (town) USGS gauge, 45 miles upstream of where we put in, which is why these are “approximate” temps and flows and not exact. There are a couple of irrigation diversions and small tributaries between the Green River gage and Mineral Bottom. The significant pulse of water that started showing up down at the Confluence on July 28 and 29 had not yet reached us on the swim day. One can see that the pulse of water brought the river up to approx. 5000 cfs. 

USGS gauge data for that date can be found at: https://waterdata.usgs.gov/ut/nwis/uv?cb_00010=on&cb_00020=on&cb_00060=on&format=gif_default&site_no=09315000&period=&begin_date=2021-06-25&end_date=2021-07-01 

How the day unfolded from my journal: 

1. 4:54 AM –  Matt started swimming before first light, accompanied by a 14’ Wilderness Systems Kayak with 1 person and a 14’ Mad River Canoe with 2 people 
2. 5:28 – 1/3 Bobo bar, water 
3. 5:55 – waffle, Clif block, electrolytes 
4. 6:27 – waffle, block, electrolytes, Vasoline for chaffing 
5. 6:56 – waffle, water 
6. 7:30 – Perpetuem, fig newton 
7. 8:30 – Perpetuem, fig newton, block 
8. 8:33 – fig newton, electrolytes 
9. 9:10 – Honey Stinger, water 
10. 9:44 – beef jerky, Gatorade 
11. 10:17 – Bobo bar, block, water 
12. 10:54 – perpetuem, block 
13. 11:06 AM-11:26 AM – Walked across rock/sand bar, warmed up, turkey jerky, water, other food/drink 
14. 12:00 – stinger, water 
15. 12:30 – electrolyte, block, jerky, water 
16. 1:04 – block, fig newton, perpetuem 
17. 1:45 PM-2:00 PM – Walked across rock/sand bar, warmed up, chicken and veggies, turkey jerky, water 
18. 2:35 – water, block 
19. 3:06 – fig newton, water 
20. 3:42 – water, waffle 
21. 4:12 – Perpetuem, waffle 
22. 4:47 – Clif, Gatorade 
23. 5:20 – stinger, water 
24. 6:00 – jerky, water 
25. 6:53 – waffle, block, water 
26. 7:30 PM-7:40 PM – Exited the river at mile marker 12.3 to discuss stopping. Decided to stop swimming due to low water, darkness and fatigue: 39.6 miles, 14 hours and 32 minutes 
27. Paddled the remaining 12 miles to the confluence of the Green and Colorado rivers, arriving at 11:16 PM

American Rivers * National Hydropower Association*The Nature Conservancy * Low Impact Hydropower Institute

Tax incentives are critical component of a larger infrastructure effort to advance hydropower, dam safety, and healthy rivers.

June 24, 2021

Contact: 

Amy Kober, American Rivers, (503) 708-1145

LeRoy Coleman, National Hydropower Association, (202) 750-8405

Eric Bontrager, The Nature Conservancy, (703) 887-0559

Shannon Ames, Low Impact Hydropower Institute, (339) 970-9337

The above organizations released the following statement today in response to Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Senator Lisa Murkowski’s (R-AK) introduction of the Maintaining Baseload Hydroelectricity and River Restoration Act of 2021. Specifically, the bill would create a 30% Investment Tax Credit to support grid resilience, dam safety upgrades, and environmental enhancements at existing hydropower facilities, and the removal of obsolete dams, with direct pay option for public power. 

“This effort is critical to the future of our nation’s infrastructure. We applaud the senators’ bipartisan leadership in introducing a billto help preserve the 100 GW of existing hydropower while incentivizing dam safety, environmental improvements for healthy rivers, and dam removal. 

Recognizing the importance of the health of our rivers and hydropower, Senators Cantwell and Murkowski are moving forward a critical piece of a negotiated proposal between conservationgroups, dam safety organizations, and the hydropower industry for investment in the rehabilitation, retrofit, and removal of dams. The full package would increase federal financial assistance to improve dam safety, create a source of funding for removal of dams determined by their owners to have reached the end of their useful life, and incentivize investments to reduce environmental impacts and improve the efficiency of federal hydropower facilities. We urge Congress to pass a final bill that includes all elements of our proposal. 

The infrastructure plans under consideration in Congress present a once-in-a-generation opportunity. Urgent investments are needed to improve dam safety, including removing dams determined by their owners to have outlived their usefulness. These investments would also bring environmental improvements, restoration of natural systems and increased resilience of rivers to the effects of climate change, all while improving the performance of existing hydropower.”

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American Rivers and American Whitewater file preliminary injunction 

June 3, 2021 
Contact: Amy Souers Kober, 503-708-1145 

American Rivers and American Whitewater have asked a federal judge for an order stopping Electron Hydro LLC from opening a water intake and diverting endangered fish out of the Puyallup River in Washington.  

The owners of the Electron Hydroelectric Project have a history of violating environmental safeguards. The century-old dam has never complied with the Endangered Species Act, and it has killed thousands of Chinook salmon, an important food source for imperiled Southern Resident orcas, as well as steelhead and bull trout. According to Puyallup Tribe fish biologists, if the intake is opened, river flows below the project will be lowered, exposing steelhead redds and killing thousands of fertilized eggs. 

“Electron Dam is one of the biggest fish killers in the region. Since the intake has been shut and 10 miles of the Puyuallup River has had natural flows, 52 steelhead redds have been identified. This is clear evidence that fish need a healthy river. If the project illegally resumes operations, we run the risk of losing these precious redds,” stated Wendy McDermott, the Puget Sound-Columbia Basin director at American Rivers. “Additionally, the intake has no screen and outmigrating juvenile Chinook salmon will be sucked into generators and killed. The project is a clear example of how hydropower can be devastating to river health and fish populations.”  

“Rivers are a public resource and for the privilege of generating hydropower operators have an obligation to meet environmental standards,” said Thomas O’Keefe, Northwest Stewardship Director of American Whitewater. “Meeting these standards is important for the fish that depend on rivers and all who enjoy the experiences rivers provide.”