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Governor Inslee Announces Progress on Snake River Dam Removal by Marisa Lloyd Daily Fly, October 19, 2021

A comprehensive legislative solution is preferable to all other avenues and is urgently needed.

LAPWAI -- Nez Perce Tribal Executive Committee Vice Chairman, Shannon Wheeler shared space with Washington State Governor Jay Inslee and the CEO of the Washington Conservation Voters, Alyssa Macy for their virtual Gathering of Champions last Thursday afternoon.

During discussion amongst the three, Governor Inslee announced that he is directing resources to define how to replace the services of the Snake River Dam, if they were to be breached.

"We are grateful for the attention that Governor Inslee has given to the Lower Snake River Dam issue and hopeful in the progress his plan represents to resolving this long standing issue. We agree that these dams are an impediment to our salmon and are swiftly leading to their extinction, which in turn, directly threatens ours and many other northwest tribal nation's treaty rights. This next step represents hope for a better future for everyone in our region which starts with healthy salmon," said Nez Perce Tribal Executive Committee Chairman, Samuel Penney.

This announcement represents a critical next step in the process of dam replacement. The potential economic impact on the region of Snake River Dam replacement has been discussed previously in Rep. Simpson's proposal, identifying billions of dollars in potential economic development.

The Nez Perce and other Columbia Basin tribes have agreed upon some basic principles around replacement.

• Agriculture is an important part of our region's economy;

• Affordable and reliable power is important to regional families and business -- tribal and non-tribal;

• Providing legal certainty for the vast majority of federal dams in the Columbia/Snake River basins is a necessary element of a lasting solution;

• A significant federal infrastructure investment in alternative energy and transportation provides a unique opportunity to restore salmon while keeping power affordable and maintaining agricultural commerce;

• A comprehensive legislative solution is preferable to all other avenues and is urgently needed.