Fishermen, recreation businesses, and friends of Northwest rivers welcomed two recent developments in a year of little good news for Snake River salmon and steelhead. 

Returns of wild fish up the Snake to their home in Idaho are so meager that fisheries have already closed, affecting outfitters and rural communities throughout the basin. Mere hundreds of wild salmon and steelhead are returning to rivers where thousands should be. But there is reason for hope. Some cracks have appeared in the dam of opposition. 

In recent months the salmon crisis has spurred action in both Washington and Idaho. First, as part of a package of actions to help starving southern resident killer whales, the Washington legislature earmarked $750,000 for a stakeholder forum. The forum will explore what investments would be needed if a decision were made to restore the lower Snake River.

The very same week, Congressman Mike Simpson, senior Idaho Republican, committed to restoring Idaho’s salmon in a keynote address at the Boise-based Andrus Center. Concerned about the future of the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) and its ability to continue providing low-cost power to the region, Simpson proposed working on a plan to save both salmon and BPA by asking the “hard questions” and putting all options on the table. 

Neither action endorsed dam removal. Both, however, were calls for an honest conversation about what river restoration and dam removal would mean for the region if it occurs. While many stakeholders have long called for an open and creative dialogue with ports, shippers, farmers, and others who use or rely on the river in one way or another, some have fought to stop any conversation where dam removal is even mentioned. Just last month, Reps. Cathy McMorris-Rodgers and Dan Newhouse launched a full-on campaign against Governor Inslee’s support for stakeholder talks in an attempt to silence any discussion of a future without the dams.

What are they so afraid of? 

If, in fact, four aging dams on the lower Snake River are the linchpin of the regional economy as the opposition claims, an honest transition planning process would surely reflect that. 

But what if transition planning shows we can affordably replace the declining transportation and energy benefits? That irrigation can continue with modest infrastructure investments? And what if it shows that a restored river, fisheries, and recreation economy would be an economic boon in towns from Riggins to Clarkston, Walla Walla to Tri-Cities, and reaching as far as Spokane? 

We won’t know unless we, as Rep. Simpson has urged, “ask the hard questions.”

While the status quo may be working fine now for some ports, farmers, and irrigators, it’s not working well at all for our fisheries, the businesses that depend on them, the tribes that require them, and the recreational fishermen who live for catching them. More and more, it also is not working for BPA, on which so many of us depend for reliable, inexpensive, and clean power. In short, BPA is in a financial bind and the future does not look good. 

The Inland Northwest should jump at the opportunity to reimagine the Snake River as it once was, and what a restored river could be. Done right, a stakeholder process would look both at how we replace the benefits of the dams and how we take advantage of the resources and amenities a restored lower Snake River would bring.

Imagine a free-flowing river coursing through a revitalized urban waterfront in downtown Clarkston/Lewiston, continuing 144 miles through the Palouse to Tri-Cities; more than 14,000 acres of riverfront land no longer under water, providing bird and wildlife habitat, hiking trails, hunting opportunities and camping; beautiful canyon walls, sweeping benches, river islands, and the Palouse River free flowing to its confluence with the Snake; boat launches supporting both motorized and non-motorized boating—and, let’s not forget the abundant fishing.

Perhaps there is a place for long-lost agriculture to return? Many small farming communities were inundated by the dams, drowning productive fruit orchards. And, we can’t forget this land first belonged to the tribes. What lands could be returned and restored for cultural and traditional uses? What investments could we provide to towns near the river so they could take advantage of the new recreation economy, predicted by various independent economists to generate hundreds of millions of dollars and more annually in Eastern Washington alone? 

Elected leaders in both Washington and Idaho have opened up a public space for envisioning what the largest river restoration in history could bring to the culture and economy of the Inland Northwest. However, entrenched interests are working overtime to squash any questioning of business-as-usual, of envisioning another future—one that includes abundant salmon, a restored river, and thriving local economies. We can’t let them do that.

Originally published in the June 2019 issue.

Sam Mace is the Inland Northwest Director for Save Our Wild Salmon, a coalition of sport fishing groups and businesses, commercial fishing associations, and conservation organizations working to restore Columbia-Snake wild salmon and steelhead.  She looks forward to one day launching on the Middle Fork of the Salmon River and boating and camping all the way to Pasco, Wash. Reach her at sam@wildsalmon.org.

Read more articles about the Snake River and the plight of wild salmon in the OTO story archives.

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Join Sandpoint-based Middle Fork River Tours for a five-day trip through the wild heart of Idaho in the 2.3 million acre Frank Church Wilderness. You’ll enjoy luxurious camping, breathtaking scenery, whitewater adventure, first class fishing, and gourmet dining!

Just a few seats are left for this August 29—September 2 journey down the Middle Fork of the Salmon River. During the trip, your days will be spent fishing, running white water, and exploring trails, hot springs and ancient sites along the river.

The experienced team at Middle Fork River Tours will provide gourmet Dutch oven meals with complimentary drinks, and will transport your tents and gear each day—giving you more time to relax in the natural beauty and wonder of the river. Learn more about Middle Fork River Tours on their website. These are some of the last remaining seats with Middle Fork River Tours for the summer of 2019!

As an added bonus, these seats will benefit Kaniksu Land Trust’s (KLT) ongoing work to protect valuable lands and provide outdoor opportunities for the communities of north Idaho and northwest Montana. KLT protects over 3,600 acres of land and provides outdoor education for over 750 area youth each year. Curious about what the non-profit organization KLT does? Read how they connect communities with the land and water that sustains them.

Funds from this trip will be used to support Pine Street Woods, KLT’s new community forest, just minutes from Sandpoint, Idaho. This 180-acre property will be home to miles of hiking, biking, snowshoe and cross-country ski trails, as well a year-round recreation center.

Your contribution of $3,000 to Kaniksu Land Trust will ensure that you don’t miss the chance to experience this unique trip—one you can feel good about taking! To reserve your seat, contact KLT at (208) 263-9471. 

[Photos courtesy of Kaniksu Land Trust]

(Sponsored Content)

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Invasive Predators

Invasive northern pike have been making inroads into the Columbia River from illegal introductions in Montana and Idaho. These large carnivorous creatures will eat anything they can get into their mouths, such as ducks, bass, to other pike. Northern pike have the potential to impact steelhead and salmon populations—especially if they make their way to spawning grounds past Grand Coulee Dam and into the Okanagan. Pike are already feeding heavily on native redband trout and burbot and are affecting hatchery rainbow trout populations.

A collaborative effort has been under way for several years to suppress the population of these invasive pike within the Columbia River system. The co-managers of Lake Roosevelt—the Spokane Tribe, Colville Confederated Tribes, and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW)—are working with agencies both up and down stream, such as Canada’s first nations and Ministry of Environment; the Kalispel and Coeur d’Alene tribes; and Douglas, Grant and Chelan Public Utility Districts.

According to Holly McLellan, a Colville Fish Biologist, northern pike are gill netted in spring when they spawn in shallow waters. The co-managers of Lake Roosevelt held weeklong “All Hands On” suppression effort in April using 450 nets and 10 boats with a goal of catching over 1,000 spawning pike. 

The Colville Confederated Tribes also has a reward for anglers catching pike, $10 per pike head. The tribe has established several drop off stations and paid out $4,500 to anglers. McLellan states, “We need their help to keep the pike population in check.”

Since 2015 the Colville Tribe, Spokane Tribe, and WDFW have removed over 8,761 pike.

Streamside Restoration

Hangman Creek is the most polluted waterway in the state. The waterway suffers from low oxygen, high nutrients, high temperature, and too much sediment suspended in the water. Just walk down to the confluence of Hangman and the Spokane River right after a rainstorm and notice the brown, cloudy Hangman versus the greenish-clear Spokane. 

The primary cause of these issues is the lack of connectivity of the creek to its floodplain. An intact floodplain with complex habitat of riparian trees, down woody debris, and over bank flooding traps sediments, slows floodwaters, and reduces pollutant entering the waterway. Currently there are several collaborative projects addressing these water quality issues.

In the Idaho headwaters the Coeur d’Alene Tribe is restoring tributary creeks with a goal of enhancing native redband trout habitat. They are removing creeks from straight ditches along railroad track and allowing them to run through historic meanders. By adding wood debris, planting trees to produce shade, and curves to the creeks flow, water will slow down, settle out sediments and make more complex habitat features, all benefitting redband trout.

In the lower basin of the Hangman, many organizations have been working to increase the amount of historic cottonwood and willow forests that once lined the creek. Organizations such as the Spokane Conservation District, The Lands Council, and Department of Ecology frequently have volunteer plantings. They are also working with local landowners to fence off portions of the creek to remove cows, which trample vegetation, erode the stream banks, and can add pollutants.

The Spokane Falls chapter of Trout Unlimited and the Spokane Riverkeeper have started a citizen science initiative to monitor water clarity. Participants sample the water clarity as well as take photo points to document the state of our river. 

The Spokane River Keeper recently won a court case that stated the Department of Ecology and Environmental Protection Agency needs to do more to lower pollutants in the Hangman Creek drainage. This includes a full assessment of riparian vegetation, greater enforcement of current laws, cattle removal, and strengthening collaborative efforts.Waters in our river basins are a shared resource; anything done up stream will eventually make its way down stream. Collaboration from all user groups, mangers, and the public will make these waters healthier for all users and just more fun to play in. 

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The film Hear the Call follows the struggle to protect precious runs of salmon; the film My Mom Valatravels to Greenland to experience life as a female fishing guide through an Icelandic lens; and two home-grown films, one highlighting youth in the Spokane area and their efforts at protecting local clean water. 

The film festival benefits the Spokane Riverkeeper, a nonprofit organization that advocates for a fishable and swimmable Spokane River for today and for future generations. Attendees can also enter to win some amazing guided fishing and river rafting trips and outdoor gear donated by Mountain Gear, Row Adventures, and Silver Bow Fly Shop.

“The Spokane is really a hub for our community,” says Paul Fish, founder of Mountain Gear, “and we are proud to support the Spokane Riverkeeper in their work to protect this precious element of our community.” Doors open at 6 p.m. at Spokane’s Garland Theater for refreshments, and the films start at 7. Tickets are $10 in advance at Mountain Gear or $12 online or at the door. Check Facebook for more info. 

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The 15th Annual Spokane River Clean-Up begins September 15th at 9:00 am. Last year, over 600 volunteers removed over 4 tons of debris from Riverside State Park to High Bridge Park, to the University District to Spokane Valley.

Sign up now for this year’s river cleanup. When you sign up, you’ll be able to choose between locations in Spokane Valley, the University District, the Downtown River Gorge area, and Riverside State Park.

Thank you for using the The Annual Spokane River Clean-Up as a great way to give back for the wonderful recreational and scenic opportunities our river corridor provides all year long! Sign up here.

You can follow the Spokane River Cleanup event on Facebook to stay up to date!

[Feature photo courtesy of ROW Adventures.]

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Tribal members, salmon advocates, anglers, and orca advocates gather on the Snake River to call for dam removal to restore a healthy river and protect its endangered wild salmon and steelhead population from extinction.

WHAT:  Flotilla and River Rally in Support of a Free-Flowing lower Snake River
WHEN: September 7-8, 2018
WHERE: Chief Timothy State Park, Clarkston, WA.

Hundreds of tribal members, anglers, business owners, conservationists, outfitters and recreational boaters will launch from Chief Timothy Park for a canoe paddle and rally on the river in support of removing four outdated dams on the lower Snake River to restore salmon, honor Treaty Rights, support fishing jobs and feed starving Southern Resident orcas.  Participants will be sending a message to Pacific Northwest elected leaders and federal agencies that bold action is needed to protect and restore salmon, and that it is time to bring stakeholders and communities together to remove the four lower Snake River dams, and invest in clean energy and modern transportation infrastructure to replace the limited, declining benefits these four aging dams provide.

This peaceful, family-friendly two-day event will open at 4 pm on Friday, Sept. 7 at Chief Timothy State Park with tribal drummers, speakers and music.

Early Saturday morning, Sept. 8th, tribal canoes will launch on the Clearwater River at Hog Island and paddle downstream down to Chief Timothy, where they will gather with a flotilla of kayaks, motorboats and canoes for a rally on the river in support of restoring the lower Snake River and its endangered fish populations.  Leading the canoes from Hog Island will be the newly built Nimiipuu (Nez Perce) canoe, the first traditional canoe built by Nimiipuu in 113 years.

After the canoe paddle and water rally, the evening program will begin around 4 pm. Indigenous activist and founder of Honor the Earth Winona LaDuke will address the gathering, followed by performances by musician and activist Nahko Bear and indigenous hip hop artist and activist Nataanii Means.

Camping Friday and Saturday night will be available at Chief Timothy for participants. Registration is required for participation in water rally and camping at Chief Timothy.  For the full schedule of activities and other information, visit the Free the Snake website.

The Snake River’s critically endangered wild salmon and steelhead populations are in desperate need of action to protect them from extinction.  Adult returns have plummeted since the lower Snake River dams were built between 1960-1975, with especially steep declines in recent years.  Tribal treaty rights are not being fulfilled, and recreation and fishing jobs in the region have been lost.  Meanwhile, billions of taxpayer dollars have been wasted on failed and illegal salmon recovery measures. The financial challenges have only multiplied in recent years as these federal projects age and the costs of maintenance and repair steadily rise.

Scrutiny on the cost of the four lower Snake River dams has intensified recently as the entire nation was transfixed by the grieving Puget Sound orca Tahlequa (J-35), who publicly bore her dead calf for 17 days, over 1000 miles, dramatically bringing attention to the plight of the Pacific Northwest’s Southern Resident orcas that rely on chinook salmon for survival. Orca numbers are the lowest in decades – just 75 individual whales survive today, and lack of sufficient prey is the primary culprit for their steep decline. Removing four dams on the lower Snake River to restore healthy salmon populations is the single most beneficial action we can take to provide more food to protect this unique, critically endangered population of orca from extinction.

Flotilla sponsors include: Nimiipuu Protecting the Environment, Honor the Earth, Friends of the Clearwater, Save Our Wild Salmon, Defenders of Wildlife, Earthjustice, Patagonia, Idaho Rivers United, Earth Ministry, EcoDepot, Mountain Gear, Sierra Club, Spokane Falls Trout Unlimited, Palouse-Clearwater Trout Unlimited, Wild Steelhead Coalition, Snake Riverkeeper, Fighting Goliath, Pacific Rivers, RoastHouse Coffee, American Whitewater, R.O.W., Endangered Species Coalition, Spokane Riverkeeper, and Greater Hells Canyon Council.

Contacts:

Sam Mace, Save Our Wild Salmon (509) 863-5696, sam@wildsalmon.org
Julian Matthews, Nimiipuu Protecting the Environment (208) 790-4296, nimiipuuprotecting@gmail.com
Brett Haverstick, Friends of the Clearwater (208) 882-9755, foc@friendsoftheclearwater.org

You can also follow the group on Facebook.

(Sponsored Content)

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Next Thursday, April 26, head to Spokane’s historic Garland Theatre for a viewing a several river-themed films in the 4th Annual Wild & Scenic Film Festival. The environmental films will revolve around themes ranging from the simple beauty of nature to current environmental issues. Each of the short 4-15 minute-long films are meant to inspire.

Your attendance at the film fest will make it easy to turn inspiration into action: all of the event benefits go the Spokane Riverkeeper, a non-profit organization that will directly advocate for fishable and swimmable Spokane river water for years to come. (Read this past Out There article written by the Spokane Riverkeeper on the cleanliness of the Spokane River.)

While you can feel good about your $15 ticket doing a good deed, you’ll also have the chance to win various outdoor gear or a guided fishing and river rafting trip. These prizes have been donated through wonderful local businesses such as Mountain Gear, Row Adventures and Silver Bow Flyshop.

The event venue will host numerous non-profits and businesses who care about making a better environment in our community. Chat with environmental advocates and grab a pint of Riverkeeper IPA from River City Brewing before the  films.

“The Spokane River is a hub for our community,” said Paul Fish, founder of Mountain Gear, in a recent press release for the event. “Supporting the work of the Spokane Riverkeeper and their protections of the river is good for recreation and good for the quality of life in our community.”

You can purchase your $15 ticket for the event in advance at Event Brite or at Mountain Gear store on 2002 N. Division Street in Spokane. You can also purchase tickets at the door on the night of the event. Event doors will open at 6:00 p.m., and films will start at 7:00 p.m.

Catch a preview of one of this year’s films, “Wild Owyhee,” in the below clip, and check out the 4th Annual Wild & Scenic Facebook Event page for more detail.

The 4th Annual Wild & Scenic Film Festival of Spokane is sponsored by the following local non-profits and businesses: Spokane Falls Trout Unlimited, Spokane Canoe and Kayak Club, Riverside State Parks Foundation, Fly Fishers International, The Spokane River Forum, Silver Bow Fly Shop, Out There Venture, Voltric Electric and Spokane Solar, Eco Depot, Save Our Wild Salmon, Row Adventures, Spokane Parks and Recreation Program, and River City Brewing. National partners include Patagonia, CLIF Bar, Sierra Nevada Brewing, Orion Magazine, Kleen Kanteen, Earthjustice, and Barefoot Wine & Bubbly.

Event time: Doors at 6:00 p.m., Film at 7:00 p.m.

Event place: Garland Theatre, 924 W Garland Ave, Spokane, WA 99205 (509-327-1050).

Tickets: $15

Read this Out There article written by Jerry White Jr., the Spokane Riverkeeper himself, titled Is Our River Clean? 

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Join Jed Conklin and Allison Roskelley at the Spokane Great Outdoors and Bike Expo on Saturday, February 24th, as they share the highs and lows of their first descent of the Spokane River via Stand Up Paddleboard (SUP). In mid-August of 2017, Jed, Allison, and their friend Grace Robison set out at the mouth of the Spokane River (on Lake Coeur d’ Alene) and paddled four consecutive days to the confluence of the Spokane and Columbia Rivers at Lake Roosevelt in Two Rivers, Washington.

What does it take to embark on such a trip? An adventurous spirit, a lifejacket and helmet, and the gumption to paddle 25-30 miles a day, come smoke or high water.

While Jed has some experience riding a SUP as a rescue swimmer at local Ironman competitions, and Allison had used a SUP a handful of times for leisure, they both learned from their 112-mile paddle and have some tips to help others get out and enjoy the Spokane River.

“For me, the biggest challenge was lack of experience. I truly had no idea what I was getting into, which was both empowering and absolutely terrifying at the same time,” says Allison. “I experienced many moments of ‘I can’t do this’ and ‘What the hell am I doing out here!?’ I had to actively fight through those thoughts because I wasn’t going to let myself quit.”

The see-it-through mentality paid off as Allison and her SUP pals got to experience the diversity of the Spokane River, from the calm and meditative waters through Spokane Valley to the rough whitewater through Riverside State Park.

For Jed, who planned the trip from the start, it was all about finding adventure in his own backyard.

“We’re fortunate having the [Spokane] river right here,” says Jed. “The first night we were paddling in the dark with headlamps through rapids. And the smoke sucked. The dams were a real pain, too. But not everyone can just jump on a paddleboard and go 112 miles.”

As the trio set out in the dead of summer, they took only the essentials. Jed says they had board shorts, puffy jackets, some food and beer, and a toothbrush. The crew propped up their paddleboards and slept on land, spreading sleeping bags out on their boards.

“It wasn’t the most cozy setup, but we were so tired by then that it didn’t matter,” says Allison.

The trio used a small Jetboil stove to cook up some backpack dinners, and also stopped over at friends’ houses who lived on the river for some food. At one point, Allison says she was able to meet her father-in-law on the river to retrieve a helmet from him, an item she hadn’t originally set out with, which paid off. Despite being an “urban” adventure, as Allison puts it, where they paddled through civilization, the crew came up against some challenges.

“I didn’t think I needed [a helmet], which definitely stemmed from my own ignorance and lack of experience,” says Allison. “I will never go on a long-distance paddle again without a helmet. I ended up having my in-laws meet me at a section of the river before the Bowl and Pitcher rapids to drop it off, and I was so thankful. I had a pretty big topple through a set of whitewater thereafter.”

The Bowl and Pitcher area is one of the most accessible stretches of the Spokane, but, with the challenging whitewater, the area turned out to be Jed’s favorite stretch of the trip.

“We did have to portage around the Devil’s Toenail. It was un-runnable. That whole section of Riverside State Park, the Bowl and Pitcher area, was just killer. If you had to narrow it down to one point, that section was the most fun. High adrenaline and super fast. It was cool,” says Jed.

The trio faced the challenge of thick wildfire smoke and low water levels due to the time of year, but they were able to experience good water, good speed, and caught a nice ride through Peaceful Valley with all of the other “day floaters.”

After their paddle saga, Jed and Allison both recommend going minimal in terms of gear.

“At the end of the day, I just packed ultra-light like I’d be doing some kind of overnight backpacking trip, except it went into a dry bag instead of a backpack,” says Jed.

Allison recommends first aid for yourself and your board, a couple layers of clothing, and a water purification system. During the trip, Allison especially enjoyed the MSR TrailShot Microfilter, as it allowed her to drink straight from the river. She’d also recommend a pair of polarized sunglasses attached to a pair of floaty Croakies, and a supportive pair of water shoes that are sturdy enough to trek over rough land.

The best way to adventure, according to Allison, is to just give it a shot with the knowledge that you’ll be better prepared next time:

“I always say you start each new adventure with something called a ‘suffer bucket.’ At the end of each adventure, that suffer bucket grows, and then it’s at a larger capacity to start the next adventure, to move you on to something greater.”

Adventure friends help too; Allison says there were some stretches of the river she would absolutely not have made without the support of Jed and Grace.

Attend Jed and Allison’s presentation, “Backyard Adventure: First SUP Descent of the Spokane River” at 10:15 a.m. on Saturday, February 24, to hear more tips and inspiration to plan your own SUP adventure. The crew used inflatable paddle boards, which are easy to rent and fairly affordable these days. If you’re an athlete, SUP is a great and affordable way to get out on the water that runs through our beautiful Inland Northwest.

About the Spokane Great Outdoor and Bike Expo:

Where: The Spokane Convention Center, 334 W Spokane Falls Blvd, Spokane, WA 99201

When: Saturday, February 24, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. and Sunday, February 25, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Tickets here

More Info here

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Earlier this season as I rounded the bend of the river in my drift boat and dropped through the rapid at the mouth of Hangman Creek, I noticed that a large shoal of sand had built up just off of the mouth of the creek. As we worked down river, the bottom of the river was covered in sand! It covered the boulders and filled in around them. Unfortunately, this sand is pollution and is a profound assault on the redband trout population. It suffocates insect habitat, covers trout nesting areas, and buries trout refuges—all because of terrible land-use practices in the upper Hangman Creek basin. During certain years, these poor and, in some cases, illegal practices have filled the river during the flood events of February and March with sand. So the next time you are floating that stretch of river, look down at the sand. If you are hiking or biking the Centennial Trail, look for the light green shaded areas in the river below. This is a sure sign that our tributaries are degrading river health. Shoreline protection is needed to begin reducing this sediment that runs from the land and into our river.

The second big sign you can notice is the smell of the Cochran basin outfall pipe below TJ Meenach Bridge on river right. This drains all of the storm water from the streets of the north side of Spokane. We recently got the call to inspect this outfall when a kayaker reported bad smelling fluid was running out of it. We tested the water, and the results showed that fecal coliform counts were actually very low. In spite of the signs of pollution, the good news is that the river was not receiving dry weather sewage or storm water. The fluid, it turns out, was return water from sprinklers hitting the streets. But this aware kayaker may catch a problem next time!

The last sign involves all of the senses: litter. It dangles from the willows and blows along the beaches. Please encourage river users to pack out what they float in with. The Riverkeeper, with the help of volunteers, has picked up over 4000 pounds of litter from the banks of the river this year. Plastics and micro plastics are becoming a huge issue in our environment, and recently a local student scientist found that whitefish in the river were indeed eating plastic. The impacts of plastic are becoming more real with each passing year.

So look, listen, and smell the beauty of nature. Use your senses to understand the signs of pollution, then report it when you see it. After all, we all want to leave the river a better place than we found it.

Jerry White, Jr. is the Spokane Riverkeeper. He contributed a River Rambles column in July.

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