Tell Bonneville Power Administration Administrator Brad Mainzer to work with the Army Corps of Engineers and Washington State to remove the 4 lower snake river dams to save money for citizens and endangered salmon.
Elliot Mainzer, Administrator
Bonneville Power Administration
905 NE 11th Ave
Portland, OR 97232
Subject:
Lower Snake River Dams
Sample letter
Dear Mr. Mainzer,
The four dams on the lower Snake River are no longer an essential part of Washington State's energy needs, but access to the Snake River is critical to wild Chinook salmon and the Southern Resident killer whales that depend upon them.
The Columbia River Basin is the largest Pacific watershed in North America, and its longest tributary, the Snake River, was once home to some of the largest salmon runs in the lower 48. Now these waters contain a fraction of the historic population, and hundreds of miles of essential fish habitat are inaccessible; despite fish ladders and other efforts we are failing.
There are other—possibly less expensive— ways to make up for any deficit in power if these dams were removed. There is no way to supplement the loss of habitat or wild genetic stock of salmon. Hatcheries have failed to bridge the gap—at great cost to the taxpayer— and now an entire ecosystem is at risk of collapse.
I urge you to accept the scientific merits of dam removal on the lower Snake River as necessary to recover wild Chinook salmon and save the Southern Resident killer whales from extinction
Elliot Mainzer, Administrator
Bonneville Power Administration
(800) 282-3713
Subject:
Lower Snake River Dams
Sample script
“My name is___and I am a resident of___State. I'm calling in support of removing the four dams on the lower Snake River. It is possible to find other means of supplying supplementary power to Washington State, it is impossible to restore wild Chinook salmon without access to the entire Snake River and the Columbia River Basin, historic home to millions of Pacific salmon.
I urge you to accept the scientific evidence that supports breaching the four dams on the lower Snake River to recover wild Chinook salmon, and thereby save the Southern Resident killer whales from extinction. Thank You”