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Save the Snake River Salmon
By Sue Kropp
SEPTEMBER 29, 1999--According to Save the Salmon Coalition literature, four dams stand between the Snake River salmon and their ancient spawning ground. Since 1981, taxpayers have spent $3 billion on failed salmon-recovery measures, including transportation of fish upriver to spawning ground. The dams also disrupt the salmon's journey downstream. In recent years, Snake River salmon have left their river to crossbreed with other salmon populations.
Many scientists agree with activists who say that only the partial removal of the dams will restore the salmon population to the Pacific Northwest. The increased number of salmon would then improve the economy, say the activists, restoring up to 25,000 commercial fishing jobs and bringing over $1 billion each year to the Northwest economy in recreation benefits.
Groups that support the movement to save the Snake River salmon include fish and wildlife conservationists, sport-fishing groups, taxpayers, river advocates, commercial fishing organizations, and environmental organizations.
Persons interested in learning more about the Save our Salmon Coalition or the Columbia and Snake Rivers Campaign can find more information at www.columbia-snake.org.
Please send comments, questions, and suggestions about Oberlin Online news and feature articles to Linda.Grashoff@oberlin.edu.
