Science is the KEY to Salmon Recovery!

Tell Senators they hold the key to real change and leadership on science-based salmon recovery.

Last September, Commerce Secretary Gary Locke and other Obama administration officials made a decision about the future of Columbia-Snake salmon, for salmon-dependent communities up and down the Pacific coast and throughout the Columbia-Snake River Basin, and for taxpayers nationwide.

Unfortunately, they chose to continue the failed salmon policies of the Bush administration at the expense of the salmon economy, the Northwest's environment, and American taxpayers.

ACT NOW: Please send the message below to Senator Ben Cardin, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Water and Wildlife of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, with a "cc" to all members of this important subcommittee.

With the Obama administration focused on the failed salmon policies of the past, it's time for Members of Congress to step in and provide some oversight. A hearing in the Water and Wildlife Subcommittee will help shed light on the scientific underpinnings of Obama's plan and what salmon truly need to survive and recover.

**Crucial 2nd Action** - Download, print, and mail in this flyer to Secretary Locke. Follow the instructions on the first page.

Tell me more

Subject:

Dear [ Decision Maker ],

(Edit Letter Below)

In his inaugural speech a year ago, President Obama made a clear and explicit commitment to "restore science to its rightful place" in policy-making and to restore transparency in the policy-making process. Since then, many members of both the Senate and House of Representatives have echoed this call.

In keeping with this commitment to scientific integrity, I write to you today seeking your leadership to hold a hearing in the Subcommittee on Water & Wildlife on the science regarding NOAA Fisheries' plan for one of our nation's most treasured species: the wild salmon and steelhead of the Columbia and Snake River Basin.

American taxpayers have spent more than $8 billion dollars on failed salmon recovery measures. Scientists say that unless we take bold, new actions to restore these magnificent fish, we will see populations of Snake River salmon and steelhead go extinct in our lifetime. These salmon, and the communities that depend on them, are in crisis.

Today, all runs of Snake River salmon and steelhead are either already extinct or listed for protection under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).  With many populations still at or below the perilously low levels that led to their listing under the ESA more than 15 years ago, it's clear the expensive status quo is not working.

Unfortunately, in September 2009, the Obama administration chose to adopt the Bush administration's salmon plan, a plan that had already been sharply criticized by a federal court.  NOAA didn't change a word of the Bush plan, but it did attach a supplement called the Adaptive Management Implementation Plan (AMIP).  The AMIP contains a number of undefined and largely in-the-distant-future studies and potential plans, but it does not clearly specify remedial actions or offer timelines for actions to occur. In short, the AMIP does little to improve the Bush-era plan, and may even exacerbate the problem by masking the original plan's inherent flaws.

Prior to formally adopting it, the Obama administration conducted an assessment of the Bush salmon plan which included a so-called "independent scientific review;" this review was not publicized, nor was any public input sought.  The eight scientists who participated were required to sign confidentiality agreements; none of those eight were federal biologists outside NOAA Fisheries; and it appears that views divergent from NOAA's were not presented to these reviewers.  As of January 2010, only a fraction of the documents related to this review have been released to the public, and only then under direction by a federal judge.

As Chairman of the Subcommittee on Water and Wildlife, you and your colleagues have a great opportunity to shed light on the scientific underpinnings of the federal salmon plan for the Columbia and Snake River Basin.  Again, I urge you to hold a hearing that examines the science behind this plan.  American taxpayers and Northwest communities deserve scientifically sound and fiscally responsible policies for our nation's treasures, including our wild salmon and steelhead.  I look forward to your action on this vital issue.

Sincerely,
[Your name]
[Your address]

Take Action on this Issue

Send this message to:

Senator Benjamin Cardin
cc: Senator Frank Lautenberg
cc: Senator Jeff Merkley
cc: Senator John Barrasso
cc: Senator Lamar Alexander
cc: Senator Mike Crapo
cc: Senator Sheldon Whitehouse
cc: Senator Tom Udall

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