Activity Report Explorer

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

LSRD committee meeting

April 9, 2021

Participants and Hours

Pre Planning hours	60
Post Admin hours	10
Activity Hours	1.5
Participants	6
Total Hours	79

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

Short Description of Activity

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

11:35 – 11:40 Report hours spent on LSRD work last month – Please type into Chat

2- H.R. 1588 Hydropower Clean Energy Future Act – Krestine
To modernize the hydropower licensing process and to promote next generation hydropower projects and for other purposes. Not in Committee yet, so no discussion at this time, just keeping an eye on it.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/19959WfpPwLDQIfRXFfNKsZXvKVDMOLWU/view?usp=sharing

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

12:00 – 12:10 1- Columbia Basin Collaborative: They sent out a link to the meeting documents. Next meeting has not been scheduled yet.
2-State Coalition reports- Idaho- Pam, Washington- Debra, Oregon- haven’t heard back yet to see if we can join.
See Columbia Basin Bulletin article “Next Steps For Columbia Basin Collaborative. . . 4-03-2021” in folder https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1cm1Kjao9sSzrs0kw8ZXDji9qtKiL992Y?usp=sharing

Advisory Team for these groups: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1usTE4JhSMsn0y5EScPZCB1qcv66ftdaKGtYuQvxcUGM/edit?usp=sharing

Our google drives folders for those groups info:
Idaho Salmon Partnership (ISP) https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1NI2DMXj7V4a5vIqjckJuYOhzD50CHgHx?usp=sharing
Snake River Coalitions (SRC)
OR-SRC https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1X_OhmCXZuGSK-3Jr9EwUCam2iVzhPKpo?usp=sharing
WA-SRC https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1mUN5YzjppWS1FSL338f1BSxfIM9wSyFf?usp=sharing

12:10 – 12:30 Actions and Activities:
Hood River “Salmon Mayday” (May 1) — Micky and Debra – Micky talked to the Port and they are not very hopeful of opening up until June. Debra and Micky checked out the port area and think that we could still have an effective protest, even if we don’t get a permit for an event. It would be people in kayaks with signs, and some support on land, both talking to people and helping folks in kayaks. Of course we can still camp at Micky’s, throw a party etc. Micky would like to have a meeting of anyone else interested in working on this. Who is interested. Debra & Micky also met with Steve Hawley and Rod Sando. Debra can talk more about some strategies we talked to them about. And Steve said he can be helpful with the Kayak event.

Nimiipuu Powwow & Canoe River Run May 6-8, 2021
Who is going? What to bring? Debra, Pam, Krestine, who else?

Waddell, Pinney, Balcomb Breach letter to Biden letter- Do we want to support?
https://drive.google.com/file/d/10_IahkPk-r_4etqzZrNBWXg2c5C6o5uf/view?usp=sharing

Simpson Plan Outreach Blitz – Krestine
See Simpson Support Postcards. 250 ordered for other groups. I LSRD Committee wants some, they are available.
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1O9KLKdNzx5RsMefMgj43QaBb9XrzqA0B?usp=sharing
The purpose of this postcard is to leverage acknowledgement of the Simpson “Northwest In Transition” concept and gain support. A free-flowing lower Snake River is at the very foundation of this initiative. Everything else proposed is a product of having a free-flowing 144 miles of river between Lewiston and Tri-Cities. I may be naive, but without a free-flowing river what is the purpose of every other aspect of the concept.

Granted the target date of 2030 for breaching is not ideal, but again, at this stage it’s only a target – not a definitive date, not a legislated date – and is negotiable as the plan evolves.

First and foremost, elected officials must get on board to support breaching in a legislative bill or in a congressional order. The Simpson concept does just that. It is not in stone. It presents a huge opportunity never before on the table. The activism to breach 4 lower Snake River dams is a 30 year war without a single real battle won or actual revitalization of the Pacific Northwest ecosystem. Finally, now a groundbreaking proposal is offered for elected leaders and Northwest members of Congress to refine and transform into legislation that will restore an ecosystem.

Also consider that the Four Governors Columbia Basin Collaborative may also present stumbling blocks or at least some hurdles. Getting key players on the same page is the ultimate goal for any success and there is such a long way to go for that to be achieved.

My 2Cents: It’s time for elected officials to work with Rep. Simpson to facilitate realization of a “Northwest In Transition.” The postcards are blank, so senders can write personal comments expressing what’s most important for them to their elected officials.

Pam presenting LSRD work to Willamette Broadband 4-12-2021. What is our ask?

Maya organized the Dammed to extinction showing in Corvallis and Micky has talked to her about arranging a meeting with DeFazio, Do we want them to contact Merkely and Wyden too? We can give them support on this so that it is not a lot of work for them.

Debra and Micky talked to Todd True, lawyer for Earth Justice and the attorney on the Endangered Species case. It is proceeding slowly. They are asking for injunctive relief, to get more spill next year. We may want to work on Murray and Cantwell. Wyden might support breach if the Washington senators did. – Debra

12:30 -12:35 Broads Lobbying trip to DC on this issue. Stay tuned. Do at appropriate time and when we can meet with them in person.

12:35 -12:40 PUDs and Electric Co-op Zoom educational event – On hold for now

12:40 -12:45 Bonneville Power Administration IPR lawsuit with Advocates for the West- No news

12:45 – 1:00 Goals for 2021- update below

Next meeting date: Friday May 14, 2021

PNW Broads Activities Flow chart
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ScVKNCfTYh1niMaRpL-v1hbJQrX_Goeb/view?usp=sharing

Google drive location of Simpson Concept info, press, etc
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/14QgAOH9XRRCiU8F1kn9clb84GRzRfuEv?usp=sharing

Reflection/Evaluation

Meeting minutes
11:30 – 11:35 Intros- Pam, Amy capturing minutes. Present: Krestine, Pam, Amy, Bonnie, Felice. Julie

11:35 – 11:40 Report hours spent on LSRD work last month – Please type into Chat
Krestine – 50 hours, Pam- 10 hrs

11:40 – 11:55 1- Rep. Simpson’s “Northwest In Transition” concept – What is our stance?
https://drive.google.com/file/d/11PIgwpjuf4MwNcaptzVdiH5m0Hi2LqEf/view?usp=sharing
Is the letter from the conservation groups (some are our allies) a concern and should we do/is anything being done about it? There’s concern about protecting all the other dams. Do we want to support the breach letter? How do we want to word our support of Simpson’s plan since there are parts we don’t agree with. – Felice will lead this discussion. This will help us figure out our message for the Actions & Activities section below.
Enviro groups criticism of plan: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1I1qB1klq2qUm67AyN9mRBeStOF8_aFqg/view?usp=sharing
Simpson OpEd 4/2/2021 What dams should be breached and protected
https://drive.google.com/file/d/19Ep6Jlm_zPwPGThH1dlWYvjKT6clYapH/view?usp=sharing
Need clarity on our message around Simpson’s plan. Our letter sounded like we were all onboard with Simpson’s which is not true.
What do you support? Not support?
Pam – Simpson delisted wolves in ID, MT, and WY legislatively and said he regretted it. Now Cheney (WY) and Simpson (ID) are co sponsoring a bill to delist grizzly bears. So much for his regret for passing legislation to preclude ESA protection. His plan for moratoriums on court challenges concerning dams impacts on salmon would be like removing them from ESA protection. Same goes for automatic relicensing of dams for up to 50 years. Ability to sue to affect dam operations to protect salmon would be removed. Also piles on a bunch of other things that don’t have anything to do with salmon. I feel like we should support dam removal, port reconfiguration, and replacing irrigators’ water.
Julie – Much bigger agenda is to undermine our bedrock laws like ESA and NEPA and other environmental laws. That is what a 35 year moratorium challenging dams would do. Every dam has a lifespan because it backs up silt by definition. This moratorium blocks the use of science to make decisions regarding the salmon. Broads needs to state “Science needs to rule and guide decisions”. Also guarantees certain people a lifestyle like barge operators. No where does society guarantee perpetuation of industries. We need to be cautious of our appearance of support. We will also be criticized as non-supporters if we say anything negative about the plan. Our bottom line needs to be the 4 LSRD need to be breached and that science needs to drive the decision.. Dworsak blocks salmon habitat equal to 4 LSRD – Bureau of Reclamation people concerned about “domino” effect of removing 4 LSRD..
Felice – What if removing the 4 dams doesn’t work and we need to keep pushing dam operators and Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE) to continue to improve salmon habitat. We could end up in a situation where we win the battle but lose the war because we gave up essential tools of dam litigation for 35 years. Are we tying the hands of other parties like the Tribes to exercise treaty rights? Broads need a more nuanced stance then “Yes the Simpson Plan.” We support it in that it breaches the 4 dams.
Bonnie – Words are important in how we express our support of Simpson’s pla. We could say it needs a good hard review. But the freeze on breaching other dams or lawsuits is not OK. Salmon to John Day dam are 4% and will likely survive but we don’t know that for sure. We wouldn’t want to not be able to do enough for salmon.
Krestine – Look at Simpson’s proposal is just that, a proposal. Not any legislation or policy. Just ideas. Until we can get people talking it’s not going to go anywhere. Just feel we will continue divisive battles for another 30 years. What has 30 years of lawsuits gotten the salmon? We need to move forward & not put up road blocks. To many roadblocks like the 4 Governor’s collaborative. Simpson plan is starting to disappear. Everybody is waiting for someone else. Simpson is throwing out the moratoriums so some won’t feel like the other dams are next to go. 30 years isn’t that long for a moratorium. I’d like to be more positive and less negative.
Amy – One approach is to take out 2 dams early and 2 dams later. Short windows of dam removal each year. This has been talked about for years. Take several years to get all dams out. Just want salmon to get something up front and 10 years from now,
Post Cards – Nuance message about Simpson’s plan. “Engage in” instead of “Support” or “Help Develop”. This message is for decision makers and elected officials. Includes governors, legislators, congressionals. Delete Mike Simpson’s name. “Engage with Northwest in Transition”. Need to reach out to Dems and get them to take it on.
Krestine will put together some new cards and email them to LSRD committee group.

2- H.R. 1588 Hydropower Clean Energy Future Act – Krestine
To modernize the hydropower licensing process and to promote next generation hydropower projects and for other purposes.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/19959WfpPwLDQIfRXFfNKsZXvKVDMOLWU/view?usp=sharing
E Washington legislators introduced legislation to change definitions of hydropower to call it “clean and green”. Not in committee yet. Krestine will let us know if it moves forward.

11:55 – 12:00 Comparative Survival Study (CSS) Annual mtg April 22, 2021. See info at end of agenda & see link to Columbia Basin Bulletin article below.

12:00 – 12:10 1- Columbia Basin Collaborative: They sent out a link to the meeting documents. Next meeting has not been scheduled yet. 4 Governors group. Haven’t done much and stated how to involve people.
See Columbia Basin Bulletin article “Next Steps For Columbia Basin Collaborative. . . 4-03-2021” in folder https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1cm1Kjao9sSzrs0kw8ZXDji9qtKiL992Y?usp=sharing

2-State Coalition reports- Idaho- Pam, Washington- Debra. Oregon- haven’t heard back yet to see if we can join. Lots of enviro groups working in coalitions in each state of Oregon, Washington and Idaho. ID and WA have approved Broads to be part of these coalitions.. Above the 3 state groups is an advisory group made up of TU, NWF, Water Foundation, American Rivers, Sierra Club, etc (see link below) and they meet once per week. Simpson’s plan is not getting a lot of traction so this group will discuss how to move forward. Plan B – stay tuned. SRC = Snake River Coalition (WA, OR. and ID).

Advisory Team for these groups: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1usTE4JhSMsn0y5EScPZCB1qcv66ftdaKGtYuQvxcUGM/edit?usp=sharing

May 13, 2021 the Boise State Andrus Center is putting on an all day conference called “Energy, Salmon, Agriculture and Community: Revisited” This will be a window into how various groups are dealing with the Simpson plan. Cost is $10. See link to sign up. https://www.boisestate.edu/sps-andruscenter/

12:10 – 12:30 Actions and Activities:
Hood River “Salmon Mayday” (May 1) — Micky and Debra – Micky talked to the Port and they are not very hopeful of opening up until June. Debra and Micky checked out the port area and think that we could still have an effective protest, even if we don’t get a permit for an event. It would be people in kayaks with signs, and some support on land, both talking to people and helping folks in kayaks. Of course we can still camp at Micky’s, throw a party etc. Micky would like to have a meeting of anyone else interested in working on this. Who is interested? Debra & Micky also met with Steve Hawley and Rod Sando. Steve said he can be helpful with the Kayak event.
If interested in this activity, let Micky and Debra know. They can set up a Doodle poll. mickyryan@aol.com Krestine will be working with them on it. Holding off on invitations until it’s an organized event. Stay tuned.

Nimiipuu Powwow & Canoe River Run May 6-8, 2021
Debra, Pam, Krestine, Julie are going. Waiting for an itinerary. Be self supporting for camping. They will save us camping spots.

Waddell, Pinney, Balcomb Breach letter to Biden letter- Do we want to support?
https://drive.google.com/file/d/10_IahkPk-r_4etqzZrNBWXg2c5C6o5uf/view?usp=sharing
Doesn’t discount Simpson’s plan but focuses on dam removal. Lay out costs and logistics for removing 4 LSRD. They have had this plan since the early 2000s. Hoping to put in Biden’s infrastructure bill. Write our own letter to the Biden Administration supporting their letter? Or sign on like with other letters? Re-send letter with Broads name at the bottom. Krestine will talk to Jim Waddell about signing on to this letter. Can we get our Democratic delegation on board with this letter? We have permission to use Waddell’s letter.

Simpson Plan Outreach Blitz – Krestine
See Simpson Support Postcards
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1O9KLKdNzx5RsMefMgj43QaBb9XrzqA0B?usp=sharing
The purpose of this postcard is to leverage acknowledgement of the Simpson “Northwest In Transition” concept and gain support. A free-flowing lower Snake River is at the very foundation of this initiative. Everything else proposed is a product of having a free-flowing 144 miles of river between Lewiston and Tri-Cities. I may be naive, but without a free-flowing river what is the purpose of every other aspect of the concept.

Granted the target date of 2030 for breaching is not ideal, but again, at this stage it’s only a target – not a definitive date, not a legislated date – and is negotiable as the plan evolves.

Pam presenting LSRD work to Willamette Broadband 4-12-2021. What is our ask?
Pam will present to Willamette Valley Broads re LSRD on Monday April 12. Our ask to the WV Chapter (Valley Girls) is to contact legislators and politicians, send post cards, write letters to the editor. Give them Waddell letter. Include some of the other issues like we support irrigation, port reconfiguration, & dam removal sooner rather than later.

Maya organized the Dammed to extinction showing in Corvallis and Micky has talked to her about arranging a meeting with DeFazio. Do we want them to contact Merkely and Wyden too? Yes. We can give them support on this so that it is not a lot of work for them. Julie has heard nothing from Wyden staff on supporting breach.

Debra and Micky talked to Todd True, lawyer for Earth Justice and the attorney on the Endangered Species case. It is proceeding slowly. They are asking for injunctive relief, to get more spill next year (decision due July 2021). We may want to work on Murray and Cantwell. Wyden might support breach if the Washington senators did. Maybe we need to reach out to them with Waddell breach letter.

12:30 -12:35 Broads Lobbying trip to DC on this issue. Stay tuned. Do at appropriate time and when we can meet with them in person. Micky, Rynda, others…