Yakamas recognize Democrats for dam-breaching efforts

TOPPENISH – The Yakama Nation has recognized two Democrats for their efforts to breach Snake River Dams.

On Tuesday, Aug. 30, the tribe recognized U.S. Sen. Patty Murry and Gov. Jay Inslee in connection with a report on the feasibility of breaching the dams as a way to improve salmon and steelhead runs.

“Sen. Murray and Gov. Inslee have seen that the salmon, steelhead and other anadromous fish of the Columbia Basin are in serious trouble. We appreciate their recognition that the status quo is not a responsible option if we want to avoid species extinction and continued decline,” Yakama Tribal Chairman Delano Saluskin said. “Yakama Nation agrees with the report’s conclusions that a comprehensive and aggressive basin-wide approach to salmon recovery is critical, and that Lower Snake River dam removal is a feasible option to aid the recovery of Snake River populations, which would in turn help remove restrictions on main-stem Columbia River fisheries.”

While west side Democrats are pushing for the removal of the dams, Eastern Washington lawmakers have voiced strong opposition to the measure.

State Sen. Mark Schoesler has called out both Inslee and Murray, noting that such a breach would destroy commerce, recreation and agriculture across Eastern Washington.

At the federal level, Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers has also opposed the effort, adding that destruction of the dams will raise the cost of electricity.

Murray’s challenger in the Nov. 8 general election – Tiffany Smiley of Pasco – is also adamantly opposed to breaching dams.

Yakama tribal officials, however, counter that their culture cannot be re-established with the dams in place, calling the issue non-partisan.

“Healthy, harvestable Columbia Basin salmon runs benefit the cultural, natural, and economic vitality of all communities in the Pacific Northwest – rural and urban, Democrat and Republican, tribal and non-tribal,” Yakama Fish and Wildlife Committee Chairman Jeremy Takala said. “We cannot allow salmon recovery to become a dysfunctional, partisan political issue if we want our children and our grandchildren to have fish.”