Tell Lieutenant General Todd Semonite and the Army Corps of Engineers to remove the 4 lower snake river dams to save endangered salmon and killer whales from extinction.
Lieutenant General Todd T Semonite
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Headquarters
441 G Street NW
Washington, DC 20314-1000
Subject:
Lower Snake River Dams
Sample letter
Lieutenant General Todd T Semonite,
The four dams on the lower Snake River are no longer an essential part of Washington State's energy needs, but up-stream access is critical to support 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 an entire ecosystem is now 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.
Lieutenant General Todd T Semonite
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
(202) 761-0011
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, but it is impossible to restore wild Chinook salmon without unhindered access to the Columbia River Basin, the largest Pacific watershed in North America.
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.”