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Breaching by Mike Raymondi Idaho Statesman, April 23, 2020

As a native Idahoan, avid outdoorsman, and fly fishing guide for an Idaho-owned company, I’ve been captivated by Idaho’s impressive salmon and steelhead runs my entire life.

For decades, salmon and steelhead numbers have been dwindling. The status quo is not working. Record low returns, reduced bag limits, and several complete closures on the Salmon, Snake, and Clearwater are clear warnings that real solutions need to be put on the table now, including breach of the four lower Snake river dams.

If we breach, we must make sure all the stakeholders in this complex issue will benefit. That includes farmers, transportation workers, anglers, energy users, guides and outfitters. As a guide, I know first-hand that outfitters and other small business owners depend upon the dollars that salmon and steelhead bring to rural communities.

I hope and trust that Gov. Little will lead in the effort to recover salmon and steelhead, for Idaho.