Science is the KEY to Salmon Recovery!

Last September, Commerce Secretary Gary Locke and other Obama administration officials made a decision about the future of Idaho salmon, for salmon-dependent communities up and down the Pacific coast and throughout the Columbia-Snake River basin, as well as 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 Idaho Senator Mike Crapo, the ranking Republican on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, and Committee Chairman Senator Ben Cardin. Last year Senator Crapo called for region-wide collaborative discussions to solve this longstanding resource debacle. Now is your chance to tell him he was on the right track.

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.

Tell me more

Subject:

Dear [ Decision Maker ],

(Edit Letter Below)

In his inaugural speech a year ago, President Obama made a clear his 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 am writing both of you to seek your leadership to hold a hearing in the Subcommittee on Water & Wildlife on the science regarding NOAA Fisheries' plan for some of our nation's most treasured species: the wild salmon and steelhead of the Columbia and Snake River basin.

I agree with your call, Senator Crapo, for collaborative, region-wide discussions to bring an end to the long-standing gridlock on this issue. A through examination of the science will be a firm platform from which to begin such a productive discourse.

American taxpayers have spent more than $8 billion 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 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 distant 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, and that 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 and ranking Republican of the Subcommittee on Water and Wildlife, you 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]

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Senator Benjamin Cardin
Senator Mike Crapo

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