FREE THE SNAKE: THE FIGHT TO REMOVE THE LOWER FOUR SNAKE RIVER DAMS
The sun peaking through a gap in the hills above the Deschutes River, a major tributary to the Columbia and Snake River watershed. The lower four Snake River dams have affects across the basin which spans Idaho, Washington, and Oregon. The Deschutes River enters the Columbia River low in the watershed and is an important stopping point for fish heading toward the Snake River. The Deschutes runs significantly colder than the Columbia offering a cold water sanctuary that gives migrating salmon relief from lethally high temperatures of summer.
The sun rises on Mt. Adams and the top of the Columbia River plateau. The Columbia Basin, which includes the Snake River, is a energy production factory where large dams create hydropower and countless wind turbines generate electricity for the region. Advocacy groups are pushing for more wind energy and less dependence on dam generated power to reduce the impacts on migratory fish species such as Pacific Salmon.
The Snake River begins West of the Continental Divide in Wyoming. As it travels westward, it grows in size as it gathers numerous rivers, eventually reaching its terminus with the Columbia River just outside the town of Pasco in eastern Washington. Historically, the Snake River was home to migrating Pacific salmon whose numbers reached well into the millions each year. These fish are the keystone species of the deserts of the Pacific Northwest and have been harvested sustainably for thousands of years to feed numerous Native American cultures.
The Army Corps of Engineers completed construction of four dams on the Lower Snake River in the 1970s, completing a series of run-of-the-river dams designed to generate hydropower for the region. The river was dredged and each dam was built with a locks system to allow for the barging of agriculture products from eastern Washington to the mouth of the Columbia River. Since the dam’s completions, salmon numbers have been drastically reduced to a mere fraction of their original numbers due to a number of factors. Slack water reservoirs behind each dam regularly reach temperatures exceeding 80 degrees Fahrenheit each summer, causing death and unnecessary stress to adult and juvenile salmon. Juveniles out-migrating from the river to the Pacific Ocean cannot safely pass through each dam and must be loaded into barges for later release once the dams have been passed.
A group of river advocates riding bikes decorated with fish kites on the Portland, Oregon waterfront. The group met at Lourelhurst Park before rallying along the Willamette River in downtown Portland in an effort to spread awareness about the harms of the lower Snake River dams.
The sun sets on the skyline in Portland, Oregon while a group of river advocates cross the Willamette River. The event was put on by Portland-based non-profit Pacific Rivers to reach members of the community who were not aware of the harms of the lower Snake River dams.
For decades, tribes and conservation groups have lobbied for the breach of the lower Snake River dams to reduce the negative impact these dams have on the landscape. Much of the energy production in the area comes from expansive wind farms that add the majority of electricity to the regional power grid. Barging of agricultural goods can be replaced by the railroad that follows the length of the entire river.
Left Image: Lindsay Schuelke poses for a portrait in Laurelhurst Park. Schuelke is the Events Coordinator for Portland-based non-profit Pacific Rivers which focuses on watershed health in the Pacific Northwest.
Right Image: Lindsay Schuelke speaks to the crowd along the Willamette River in downtown Portland, Oregon. The event was designed to spread awareness about the lower Snake River dams.
“Spreading awarness about these dams is crucial to stopping salmon extinction in the Columbia River basin,” said Lindsay Scheulke, Events Coordinator for Portland, Oregon-based non-profit Pacific Rivers. “This event was designed to introduce community members to the struggles of our salmon and to bring new advocates to the table to help.” Schuelke’s event started in Laurelhurst Park before riding bikes along Salmon Street in east Portland, over the Willamette River to the waterfront in downtown Portland. Schuelke said that this event mimics the migration of salmon in the Columbia and Snake Rivers, and starts conversations about the dams.
Joe Griffin-Hart, Joe Rutter, and Tanner Irwing (left to right) get ready for an evening of steelhead fishing on the lower Deschutes River. The Deschutes River is a world-renowned destination for this unique fish whose numbers have been significantly by dams in the Columbia and Snake River basins.
Event organizers address a crowd of river advocates in Laurelhurst Park in Portland, Oregon. Many of the attendees had never heard about the issues surrounding the any dams on the Columbia and Snake Rivers.
Event attendees paint wooden cutouts of Pacific salmon in Laurelhurst Park before riding bikes to downtown Portland. The painting station was a great place for strangers to meet and share experiences of time spent enjoying the many rivers in the Pacific Northwest.
A finished painted salmon ready for display. Salmon are an important part to Pacific Northwest culture, and many residents have become increasingly shocked at their rapid decline throughout their range.
Event volunteers hoist salmon kites while speaking to a crowd in downtown Portland, Oregon. Many people who attended enjoyed hearing about the hard work that Portland-based non-profits were doing to fight the lower Snake River dams.
A woman signs up for newsletters put out by Pacific Rivers. Small non-profits need memberships from concerned community members to continue their work in preserving watersheds throughout the Pacific Northwest to help migrating salmon.
Event attendees mingle at the fish painting station in Laurelhurst Park. The atmosphere was relaxed and new friends were made as people mingled before a bike ride meant to mimic the migration of Pacific salmon up the Columbia and Snake Rivers.
Small non-profits like Pacific Rivers get their funding from state and federal grant money, as well as contributions from members in the community concerned with decreased salmon numbers in the region. Newcomers to the event signed up for newsletters to stay informed on the status of salmon runs and the dams, also contributing money to the work done by Pacific Rivers.
Left Image: Music blared over speakers pulled on a bike trailer as people gathered to hear about the lower Snake River dams and efforts in place to begin to remove them. Many people in Portland, Oregon have deep passions to protect the rivers surrounding the city and fish that swim in the each year to spawn.
Right Image: Natalie Kunert poses for a portrait in downtown Portland. Kunert is a self-proclaimed “river rat” and is passionate about free flowing rivers without unnecessary dams.
Pacific salmon, the keystone species of the Pacific Northwest have experienced drastic reductions in their population sizes throughout their historic range. Many people are working hard throughout the region to ensure that these amazing animals endure long into the future.