If you've heard about the recent release of the draft report on the subject commissioned by Gov. Inslee and Sen. Murray, you'll know that the subject of saving the salmon is on everyone's mind.

And with good reason. Salmon are essential to our region–on our economy, our environment, and our cultural heritage--and their populations are threatened.

Their potential loss would have a devastating effect, not least on our struggling Orca population, but especially on tribal nations in the Pacific Northwest whose lives and culture are inextricably linked to these fish populations.

One of the more important efforts to save the salmon is focused on breaching four dams on the Snake River, something that was the subject of the draft report.

Discussing all of this is an exceptional panel:

Emily Washines— is an historian, educator, author and member of the Yakama Nation facilitating equitable history

Dr. Helen Neville— is the senior scientist for Trout Unlimited, performing research, science guidance and public education on salmon and trout recovery

Bryan Jones— is a 4th generation wheat grower, orchardist and salmon recovery advocate

Marc Sullivan— is northwest Washington coordinator for the Save Our wild Salmon Coalition and formerly served as director of strategic and power supply planning for Seattle City Light.

Show Notes:

ACTION: Comment by July 11 on the draft report on breaching the Lower Snake River dams. After watching this panel discussion you'll see that it's a total no brainer.

We've already spent $26 billion trying to mitigate the damage. Instead of pouring more money into repairing and maintaining old structures and strategies that don't work, it's time to invest in solutions that free up the river, save the salmon and orcas, provide better energy solutions, and equally (or more) effective ways of moving grain to shipping ports. It's a win-win all around.

But big corporate farms are opposed, and are spending a lot of money trying to convince people to keep spending money on failed solutions.

SUGGESTED COMMENT LANGUAGE: (provided by Don and the panelists)

Right now the report’s tables only show the costs of breaching the dams with no table summarizing the costs of leaving the dams in place. Please provide a companion data table reflecting the costs of leaving the dams in place — which will provide a more accurate comparison of costs.