Activity Report Explorer

LSRD Committee • Entered by Pam Conley on April 29, 2021

LSRD committee meeting

February 12, 2021

Key Issue: Wildlife Protection
Activity Type: Broadband Meeting (prep, implementation & follow up)

Short Description of Activity

Meeting agenda:
11:30 – 11:35 Intros- Pam, Amy capturing minutes.

11:35 – 11:55 Rep. Simpson’s Columbia Basin Recovery Plan
1- Good and bad points, how do we go about supporting?
2- Consider preparing a “Declaration of Public Support” for public sign on?

11:55 – 12:00 Comparative Survival Study (CSS) Annual mtg April 22, 2021. See info at end of agenda

12:00 – 12:10 Columbia Basin Collaborative: 1st mtg is Feb. 24. Many of us have signed up to participate. Let’s pick one person & a backup to represent Broads if we only get one seat.

12:10 – 12:25 Action Activities: -Actions:
1. Hood River Mayday for Salmon (May 1)—Micky & Debra
2. Paddle of the lower Snake, Asotin to Tri-Cities—(tentative plans & dates—Apr 15-29) Debra (Micky?)
3. Others
12:25 -12:35 Broads Lobbying trip to DC Oct 31-Nov 5—Should any of our Committee members apply to go? Or perhaps look at our own separate trip?

12:35 -12:40 PUDs and Electric Co-op Zoom educational event- Krestine and Micky

12:40 -12:45 Bonneville Power Administration IPR lawsuit with Advocates for the West- Micky

12:45 – 1:00 Goals for 2021

Reflection/Evaluation

Meeting minutes
11:30 – 11:35 Intros- Pam, Amy Stuart capturing minutes. New person Karen Davis – Welcome!!!!
participants: Pam, Lisa, Rynda, Debra, Krestine, Joanne, Karen, Felice, Julie, Laurie, Micky, Amy

11:35 – 11:55 Rep. Simpson’s Columbia Basin Recovery Plan
– Good and bad points, how do we go about supporting?
– Good – not a done deal yet, not legislation yet which is OK, elevates tribes’ role in salmon management, and takes it away from BPA, great far reaching proposal, heart is in the right place, good national conversation, but need to get dams out ASAP, big picture needs, Tribes generally supportive. Simpson proposed lower Snake River National Recreation Area post dam removal with management by BLM but some concerns with BLM as manager.
– Bad – suspicious of 4 governor collaborative, some congressionals not on board, delay dam breaching until 2030, might be too late for wild salmon and steelhead, SR orcas on the edge as well, politics over reality, double borrowing authority from BPA, way too broad in scope since encompasses entire Col R basin, stops any legal challenges of any dams over 5 MW, stops challenges to CWA for 35 years, lots of ag spending like big dairy, irrigators protected from loss of diversions and get water first, maybe a Trojan Horse? giant whatever you want list, lots of pork included like north south interstate in Idaho, CAFO is Simpson’s backyard and lots of potential for dairy growth, big dairy guys important to Simpson.
– Simpson’s plan in google drive, Borg has LTEs in google drive to assist with writing our own LTEs
– Consider preparing a “Declaration of Public Support” for public sign on?

Next Steps: Need contact with Lindsay (chief of staff) for Simpson. Sam Mace (SOS) said “nobody will be left behind”. Need to know – make everybody whole. Make contact with Gov Brown office to see if we can shape direction. Blumenauer and Merkley’s aides work closely with Simpson’s office. Part of the infrastructure bill or part of lots of bills? Gather information, LTEs (February 18), put position letter together. Respond to Simpson and to others writing in various forums. eg. Columbia Basin Bulletin will be on google drive. Respond to collaborative after it occurs.

11:55 – 12:00 Comparative Survival Study (CSS) Annual mtg April 22, 2021. See info at end of agenda
Micky will send the link out so folks can listen into the meeting. Be on the side of fish. Virtual meeting on April 22.

12:00 – 12:10 Columbia Basin Collaborative: 1st mtg is Feb. 24. Many of us have signed up to participate. Let’s pick one person & a backup to represent Broads if we only get one seat.
All can attend collaborative meetings but may or may not be public participation. Last sign up is today.
14 tribes with treaties but trying to reduce participation. tribes get 4 votes, states get 4 votes. Ed Bowles is Oregon’s person on the collaborative.

12:10 – 12:25 Action Activities: -Actions:
1. Hood River Mayday for Salmon (May 1)—Micky & Debra
“May Day for the Salmon”, educate the public, land based tabling and information,
Debra wills scope out lodging, launch sites, and tabling sites, have a little “fair” for
salmon. Rynda will lead land base but needs science and/or economics person to
help out on shore activities. Maybe Steve Hawley and group will join and lives in Hood
River area. Good public face and speaker. Have press release from fall available to use. Micky and John have 6 acres near Mosier and welcome to camp there.
2. Paddle of the lower Snake, Asotin to Tri-Cities—(tentative plans & dates—Apr 15-29) Debra (Micky?) Debra planning 2 weeks before May Day with a paddle itinerary for Snake River. Could assess potential values for lower Snake River area for post dam removal. Co management between BLM and Tribes as NRA? Backcountry Conservation Area? Invite Tribes on paddle trip to get their support.
3. Others

12:25 -12:35 Broads Lobbying trip to DC Oct 31-Nov 5—Should any of our Committee members apply to go? Or perhaps look at our own separate trip?
Micky and Rynda talking about it and already have a motel reservation. Usually Broadband leaders but could include others. Legislation supposed to happen in 2021?
Good way to educate Congressionals on science and economics of dam removal with or without a bill in place. Anyone can go to Broads lobby event but only 16 spaces including 2-3 staff. Will be vetted on who goes to represent and lobby for Broads, and will be training. Still uncertainty re covid and lobbying in person. May do separate lobby trips for policies versus expenditures.
Possibly do August recess meetings with Congressionals home in districts. Can still do Zoom calls anytime with Congressionals. Also should meet with governors and god forbid, our congressionals even the bad ones.

12:35 -12:40 PUDs and Electric Co-op Zoom educational event- Krestine and Micky
Krestine has a template from the Washington State League of Women Voters to build an educational process (Powerpoint). Designed for Zoom as well.

12:40 -12:45 Bonneville Power Administration IPR lawsuit with Advocates for the West- Micky
Debra did some work on it. All about rates, and think they have a hook to address
spending on fish and wildlife. Strange convoluted lawsuit. One issue is BPA has made more money on surplus power than PUDS. Lots of people in lawsuit with different interests.

12:45 – 1:00 Goals for 2021 – see campaign strategies list below
February 24 – attend Col Basin collaborative if you can, Pam will send a link.
Educational Events – kayak event May Day with speakers and Rewilding Podcast
Media – involve in different activities, don’t do press releases unless announcing event.
LTEs e.g. Micky’s Feb 18 Zoom event.
Newspapers – opinions, LTEs, interviews, links to Steve’s movie and podcast, our position on Simpson’s plan
Demonstrations
Partnerships – Nimiipu, Advocates litigation, Endangered Species Coalition
Political Engagement, NW Accountability Project
Broads website – send anything to add to Susan Kearns and Judy Todd
PIELC legal conference
Thank you gift to Governor Brown (Micky). Reminder to file litigation…
Flotilla if covid permits
Steve Hawley – started NW Resource Accountability Project with others,
Damned to Extinction is now free

*** Krestine can help with layouts on Action Alerts***

LSRD Podcast is available at
https://rewilding.org/episode-67-the-case-for-removing-4-dams-on-the-lower-snake-river/
Ask National to get the podcast out to all the Broads members in the PNW as a regional issue.
Issue of sending out information to all Broad members in the Region?
Next meeting date: Friday March 12, 2021