Click here for full testimony and presentation
NSIA spoke on the benefits of designing a spill test for the Columbia basin May 28, at a Senate Interim Committee on Environment and Natural Resources hearing chaired by Senator Dembrow. The proposed test would measure the effects of spill on smolt to adult ratios for spring Chinook and find the best way to increase our fish returns.
NSIA was invited to testify by the Senate Committee because of our long-standing leadership role in recovery of Columbia River salmon and steelhead as well as our expertise in the value of these fisheries to our economy.
For decades, listed spring Chinook have not been achieving replacement in the Columbia basin 80% of the time. NSIA believes increasing spring spill levels will have spring Chinook coming back three fold, which is a win for salmon and great opportunity for sportfishing.
At the hearing, Executive Director Liz Hamilton was given five minutes to address cost and climate change concerns, the economic benefits of salmon and respond to some of the Bonneville Power Administration’s (BPA) claims. Also invited to testify were Richard Whitman, Governor Kitzhaber’s Natural Resource Policy Director, Ed Bowles, Fish Administrator ODFW, Crystal Ball, BPA, Ted Case, Oregon Rural Electric CoOps and Teri Flores, NW River Partners.
With obvious passion and knowledge on the issue, Liz concluded the hearing assuring the committee they would share in NSIA’s support for spill as a potential path to recovery. After a testimony like that, it became obvious the spill test will be the best opportunity for leaving the dams in place while protecting farmer’s water.