Free the Snake Flotilla
Last weekend, I participated in the fourth annual Free the Snake Flotilla, an on-the-water event calling for the removal of the four Lower Snake River Dams. These dams block salmon from reaching some of the best salmon spawning habitat in the lower 48: the vast, forested wilderness of central Idaho. Removing them would allow salmon to reach this habitat, which would restore one of the largest historical salmon runs in the Northwest. Snake River salmon are bigger and fattier than other salmon because of the long journey they have to make inland and restoring these salmon is extremely important to recover southern resident orcas.
Over 600 people participated in the event. We launched from Chief Timothy Park, an island on the Snake River that is sacred to the Palouse People, who welcomed us onto their land. While not federally recognized, the Palouse Tribe has been actively advocating for the removal of these dams to restore salmon and fulfill tribal treaty rights. We kayaked and paddled around the island with signs saying “Save the Orcas,” “Remove the Dams,” and “Free the Snake!” There was even a giant inflatable salmon on the water!
Joining us later were traditional canoe families, which started the day from the Nez Perce reservation in Idaho. They paddled down the Clearwater River to the Snake. One of the canoes was extremely special. It was the first one that the Nez Perce tribe had made in over 100 years. The community spent the last year carving the canoe with help from local elementary school students. This allowed the students to also learn about the deep spiritual and cultural importance of the canoe and the rivers to the Nez Perce. When the canoe families reached the park, they were welcomed by the Palouse Tribe with songs and prayers. Disembarking their canoes, one of the Nez Perce leaders said that each paddle on the Snake River that day was a prayer, and now the prayer was done. It was an extremely moving moment and was a reminder that the Snake River is both sacred and critically important to many tribes in the Northwest.
The event ended with an address from famous Native American rights activist, Winnona LaDuke. In her speech, LaDuke highlighted the many Native-led efforts around the country to protect the environment, wildlife, and tribes’ way of life. She talked about fighting off oil pipelines, like the TransMountain Pipeline in British Columbia that was just blocked after to a big legal victory. The underlying message of LaDuke’s speech is that we, as a society, need to reconnect with and stand up for nature. Before the Snake River dams were built, the salmon spawning on the river provided food for orcas, dozens of tribes, and sustained the entire region. The dams disrupted this process, choking the river and blocking the salmon. The ecosystem isn’t healthy anymore, but by removing these dams, we can bring life back to the Snake River while still sustaining healthy and vibrant communities.
LaDuke reminded us that by coming together, people can overcome obstacles and achieve big victories for the environment. It is now more important than ever for people to come together to call for a free Snake River. Tragically, another young orca died last week. J50, or Scarlet, was one of the first calves born during the 2015 baby boom (which happened after good salmon returns on the Columbia River, showing the importance of Columbia/Snake salmon to the population). When she first appeared in the Salish Sea this summer, she was already looking thin, and breath samples indicated she was sick. Her condition inspired bold, collaborative action to save her between NOAA, the state of Washington, Tribes, Canadian agencies, and countless others. Researchers tried directly feeding her live salmon (she didn’t eat them) and administered antibiotics. Whale watchers avoided her and her family all summer to reduce noise disturbance. Despite all of these efforts, J50 went missing and is presumed dead. At just three years old, she was one of the skinniest whales researchers had ever seen and the loss of a female close to reproductive maturity is a blow to future recovery.
What J50 needed, and what her family continues to need, are healthy and abundant chinook salmon, which these orcas depend upon for survival. If we are unable to restore the salmon that these orcas need, more whales will starve to death. Removing the Snake River dams is one of the most important things we can do to provide salmon to J50’s remining family members. NOAA and Washington state were willing to mount an aggressive plan to save this one whale, and we need this type bold leadership and tough choices to continue if we are to prevent the extinction of these unique whales.
- Robb
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