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THE ASTORIAN • THuRSdAy, OcTObER 21, 2021
OPINION
editor@dailyastorian.com
KARI BORGEN
Publisher
DERRICK DePLEDGE
Editor
Founded in 1873
SHANNON ARLINT
circulation Manager
JOHN D. BRUIJN
Production Manager
CARL EARL
Systems Manager
GUEST COLUMN
A future with salmon and clean energy
T
ogether, we represent the leader-
ship of the state of Oregon, the
Nez Perce Tribe and the North-
west Sportfishing Industry Association.
For years, we have worked alongside
the other stakeholders of the Colum-
bia River basin to find a path forward
that ensures the long-term economic and
ecological health of our region.
So, we were surprised to see the Pub-
lic Power Council’s
Sept. 26 op-ed in The
Oregonian complaining
about a lack of dialogue
over the governor’s sup-
port for breaching the
four dams of the Lower
Snake River. The group
KATE
has been invited to and
BROWN
attended numerous
meetings and forums
over the years, including
Columbia Basin Collab-
orative meetings, where
it has been welcome
to participate in work-
ing groups. We’ve heard
the perspectives of the
SAMUEL N.
Public Power Council
PENNEY
and shared ours – which
includes a comprehen-
sive solution that charts
a stronger, brighter
future for the Northwest.
The ecological
vibrance of the Colum-
bia and Snake rivers is
intertwined with the eco-
LIZ
nomic prosperity of the
HAMILTON
region. For generations,
we have harnessed our
rivers and developed our watersheds,
seeking a balance between sustainabil-
ity and prosperity. What is clear today is
that the status quo in the Columbia basin
is not working. Salmon and steelhead
stocks continue to decline, with several
now on the brink of extinction. We must
also continually reevaluate our evolving
clean energy portfolio to reflect emerg-
ing technologies. It is not an either-or
choice: we can have a future with abun-
dant and harvestable salmon and reliable
clean energy.
Salmon and steelhead are keystone
species critical to the region’s ecosystem
and economy, as well as subsistence and
cultural health for tribal peoples who
have fished the rivers since time imme-
morial. Abundant salmon and steelhead
populations can coexist with a robust,
growing regional economy that includes
affordable and renewable power, water
Ted S. Warren/AP Photo
The Lower Granite Dam on the Snake River is seen from the air.
for agriculture, transportation of goods
and jobs in the fishing industry, while
being respectful of tribal culture, history
and treaty rights.
Decades of development, including
the dams and reservoirs placed between
critical inland nursery areas and ocean
feeding grounds, has had devastat-
ing impacts on wild salmon and steel-
head. For nearly 30 years, several spe-
cies have remained listed under the
federal Endangered Species Act. Now,
the climate crisis is compounding those
impacts through warmer waters, lower
river flows and deteriorating ocean con-
ditions. Through it all, the federal agen-
cies responsible for operating dams on
the Columbia and Snake rivers have
continuously failed to meet the mini-
mum standards required by the Endan-
gered Species Act.
This year, we find ourselves at a
critical juncture — if we do not take
action before juvenile salmon begin
their spring migration, those stocks may
never recover. Extinction is irreversible.
We must act now.
Restoration of the Snake River
through the removal of the earthen por-
tion of the lower four dams is a neces-
sary part of any long-term solution. Just
as clear is that significant resources will
be necessary to invest in clean energy
sources to replace the energy production
the dams provide. That’s one of the rea-
sons U.S. Rep. Mike Simpson, a Repub-
lican of Idaho, called for $33 billion
in economic investment as part of his
proposal, released earlier this year, for
resolving the Columbia basin conflict.
By striking the right balance, we can
ensure robust and harvestable fish runs,
a growing economy built on investments
in clean energy and sustainable agri-
cultural, commercial and recreational
industries.
We would like to correct some
misperceptions. First, litigation was not
a path that the governor chose alone,
nor was it our preferred option. Unfor-
tunately, the federal government left
us no other recourse. Rules enacted by
the previous administration — and the
resulting 15-year federal plan for operat-
ing the Columbia and Snake river dams
— are inconsistent with the Endangered
Species Act and federal laws, and fall
far short of protecting our fish runs.
Second, our recent proposals do not
conflict with the recent flex spill agree-
ment, which was an interim step while
the latest operations plan was com-
pleted. The flex spill agreement, by its
express terms, terminated when the fed-
eral government issued the flawed oper-
ations plan.
Finally, no one disputes that the
power generation of the Snake River
dams must be replaced. That challenge
is far from insurmountable — in fact,
the dams provide a relatively small,
though stable, amount of power for the
region. The region as a whole is work-
ing to address power generating needs,
reliability and greater integration of
renewables. As clean regional energy
supplies expand, combined with invest-
ments in storage and energy efficiency,
future dam removal becomes a viable
option.
None of this is simple or easy. We
will need all our partners to make it hap-
pen, including the Public Power Coun-
cil. But we cannot wait another year. If
salmon and steelhead disappear from
the region, the ecological and economic
impacts can never be undone. That is
what is at stake. Let’s work together on
a comprehensive solution and get this
done.
Kate brown is governor of Oregon.
Samuel N. Penney is chairman of the
Nez Perce Tribal Executive commit-
tee. Liz Hamilton is executive director
of the Northwest Sportfishing Industry
Association.
NONE OF THIS IS SIMPLE OR EASy. WE WILL NEEd ALL OuR PARTNERS TO MAKE IT HAPPEN, INcLudING
THE PubLIc POWER cOuNcIL. buT WE cANNOT WAIT ANOTHER yEAR. IF SALMON ANd STEELHEAd
dISAPPEAR FROM THE REGION, THE EcOLOGIcAL ANd EcONOMIc IMPAcTS cAN NEVER bE uNdONE.
THAT IS WHAT IS AT STAKE. LET’S WORK TOGETHER ON A cOMPREHENSIVE SOLuTION ANd GET THIS dONE.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Standards
Keep Cannon Beach safe
he “Speak your mind” letter to the edi-
tor of Oct. 14 advised another letter
writer of Oct. 7 to submit a more detailed
example of the bias at The Astorian they
were complaining about.
Now, I don’t know the why of the com-
plaint, but I do know The Astorian has
edited some of my opinions in regards to
what the editor described as unsupported
factual claims.
Robert Potter does note something cor-
rectly with his “freedom of the press”
statement, even though it is well docu-
mented that the “press” often passes along
lies by quoting people.
However, that is not what The Astori-
an’s letters to the editor policy is about.
They have standards. One cannot just
“Speak your mind” as Potter suggests.
ROBERT LIDDYCOAT
Seaside
T
T
A hazard
was once a fireman, and I certainly
respect and support both paid and
volunteer fire-people, other first-line
responders, medicos, other hospital
employees, teachers and other school
employees.
I respect the mail and freight deliv-
erers, grocery store employees, loggers
and plumbers, too. But those noble occu-
pations do not entitle you to be a hazard
to the community you’re supposed to be
serving.
Get vaccinated against COVID-19; it’s
easy and simple. If you won’t, don’t let the
door hit you between the shoulder and the
heel.
JOSEPH WEBB
Astoria
I
he Oregon Restaurant and Lodging
Association harms rural communities.
Light must be shed on ORLA, the lobbyist
responsible for fueling a fear-based cam-
paign of misinformation surrounding the
Cannon Beach food tax.
ORLA constantly fights to uphold the
outdated transient lodging tax legislation,
mandating the use of a percentage of local
lodging tax funds to continue financing
marketing efforts, even when destination
marketing is no longer needed in over-
crowded communities like Cannon Beach.
This same portion of lodging tax funds
may be used for “tourism-related facili-
ties,” which has an overly strict definition
that does not accommodate investments
(congestion mitigation, first responder ser-
vices) the food tax aims to support.
In other words, ORLA supports mar-
keting Cannon Beach to bring more visi-
tation, without taking into account visitor
safety or how it impacts local livability.
ORLA has a history of investing its
resources to fight legislation that would sup-
port local communities. In the most recent
legislative session, they defeated bills aimed
at increasing the lodging tax to fund some-
thing other than tourism promotion.
House Bill 2579 would have increased
the lodging tax from 1.5% to 1.8%, and
invested the increase exclusively for afford-
able housing in the county where it was col-
lected. Wouldn’t it be nice if firefighters and
restaurant employees could afford to live in
the communities they serve?
ORLA is a huge outside lobbyist that
does not have the health and safety of
small communities or its residents in mind.
Please join me in keeping Cannon Beach
safe and vote “yes” on the food tax.
AARON MATUSICK
Cannon Beach