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Alaska Governor: Dams Decimate Salmon by Dan Hansen Spokesman Review - October 27, 1999

Restoring rivers needed to help save species, he says

Snake and Columbia River dams are “a killing field" for salmon, says Alaska Gov. Tony Knowles.

“There is no question that the federal government and the states of Oregon and Washington have not come to terms with the real problem facing wild Pacific salmon: restoring the great salmon rivers of the Northwest," the Alaskan Democrat wrote to his counterparts in the two Northwest states.

At a press conference Monday, Knowles sidestepped questions about whether he supports the removal of four Snake River dams in Washington. But noting that Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber once called that option “a biological nobrainer," Knowles said he agrees with that assessment.

Kitzhaber's staff has said in the past that the Oregon governor has not yet formed a position on dam-breaching, since economic and social impacts must be taken into account, in addition to biology.

Knowles said his state has done its part to restore salmon by restricting commercial fishing. He said he won't go along with any restoration plan that would further restrict fishing.

“There is great political and economic pressure to do nothing with the rivers and shift the political problem onto the backs of salmon harvesters," he said.

Knowles' letter and press conference were a response to criticism of his state's request for an exemption from the Endangered Species Act.

Under the Pacific Salmon Treaty agreement reached in June, Alaska accepted restrictions on chinook salmon fishing in the state's southeastern panhandle. In return, the state got assurances that fishing won't be shut down altogether over concerns for endangered salmon runs from the Pacific Northwest.

No one can say how many Northwest fish are mixed with other chinook caught by Alaskan fishermen.

A federal budget rider introduced by Sen. Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, would write the protection into law, effectively bypassing the Endangered Species Act.

Eliminating commercial trolling in southeast Alaska is among the many salmon-saving options federal agencies say must be considered if the four Washington dams aren't breached. Trollboat owners contend they provide one out of every 25 jobs from Juneau to Ketchikan, plus more jobs in canneries and other support industries.

Kitzhaber and Washington Gov. Gary Locke refused to support Stevens' legislative shortcut.

“While it is unlikely that the (Endangered Species Act) would be needed to affect Alaskan harvests of fish covered by the agreement, we believe it is bad principle and practice ever to lock away any tool that might be needed to save a threatened species," the governors wrote in a joint letter. “If such a rider is contained in the final bill, we will ask the President to veto the measure."

Jeff Curtis, the West Coast conservation director of Trout Unlimited, also refused to endorse the rider, although he supported Knowles' contention that the real problems lie far south of Alaska.

“We agree that failure to deal with habitat in the Northwest is a serious issue," said Curtis, whose group has endorsed the dam-breaching proposal. “To that extent, Knowles is right."

The rider is attached to the appropriations bill funding the Commerce, Justice and State departments. Clinton vetoed the measure Monday because it offers less than he wants for fighting crime.

While the administration opposes the rider, it is not clear whether it would prompt another veto if Congress restores the spending the administration wants.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

BACKGROUND

Salmon Treaty

Under the Pacific Salmon Treaty agreement reached in June, Alaska accepted restrictions on chinook salmon fishing in the state's southeastern panhandle. In return, the state got assurances that fishing won't be shut down altogether over concerns for endangered salmon runs from the Pacific Northwest.