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Don't Drop Plan to Remove Dams on Snake River by Nancy Johnson Everett Herald, June 11, 2021

Thank you for the well-researched and timely editorial on Columbia River salmon "Act now to save salmon, regardless of dams' fate,"The Herald, May 30).

As a transplant to the Puget Sound region from a family farm in central Washington, I watched the "salmon wars"from both sides of the Cascades. The result of those wasted years of wrangling and litigation: our iconic salmon, steelhead and orcas are now near extinction.

I'm grateful to Rep Mike Simpson, R-Idaho, for his extensive consultations with stakeholders resulting in a balanced (but not perfect) proposal to save Snake River salmon and steelhead, including breaching the four lower Snake River dams. I'm disappointed in Gov. Jay Inslee's and Sen Patty Murray's rejection of his plan. And am now heartened that the 57 affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians unanimously approved a resolution supporting the Simpson plan and calling for a summit this summer.

There is energy around this issue and the Simpson plan is a great starting point for discussion. If these groups can get it together to work together -- quickly -- it might be possible to salvage our salmon.