Help Snake River Salmon Today

Our wild salmon are still endangered in the Pacific Northwest. And the Bush Administration is in charge of recovery efforts which aren't working. These majestic fish sure could use a helping hand. Wild salmon, and the communities that depend on them, need a back-up plan. The Salmon Planning Act is it, but only if your leaders in Congress help. Please take three minutes to urge their support of a future with wild salmon, healthy rivers, and restored communities.

Sample Letter for Campaign

Subject: Please support Salmon Planning Act

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

I'm writing to ask for your support of the Salmon Planning Act.

This common sense bill provides an urgently-needed safety net to the people and wildlife of the Pacific Northwest, where Snake River salmon once made up half of the world's largest salmon run.

These majestic fish continue to teeter near extinction. We can't rely on the Bush Administration alone to get the job done. The federal Salmon Plan, which they're in charge of, is far behind schedule and not being fully funded. And a federal court recently ruled the plan illegal and inadequate. It's a recipe for failure. But Congress can help.

The Salmon Planning Act (SPA) is a common sense backup plan to ensure that we have a "Plan B" in place if the federal Salmon Plan fails. SPA includes vital planning tools like (1) scientific review of a failing federal salmon plan, (2) necessary studies that will save taxpayer dollars and keep Northwest communities whole, and (3) pre-authorization to bypass four Snake River dams in Washington State, if found necessary to restore salmon, honor treaties, and protect clean water.

I look forward to hearing your position on this important issue.

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
February 21, 2003

Background Information

TAKE ACTION by PHONE, TOO! Call the US Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121. All you need is your zip code and your opinion.

MORE BACKGROUND

In the last session of Congress, 89 Democrats and Republicans from across the nation supported the Salmon Planning Act.

Right now, in anticipation of the Salmon Planning Act's reintroduction in Congress later this spring, salmon advocates, river lovers, taxpayer watchdogs, businesses, and faith leaders throughout the Pacific Northwest are working hard to build broad support for this common sense bill.

Your help could make the difference.

When you call or write your one Representative and two Senators, make these points:

" PLEASE CO-SPONSOR THE SALMON PLANNING ACT. It is the Northwest's backup plan."

* I CARE ABOUT WILD SALMON for their cultural, biological, and economic contributions to our region.

* THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION HAS SO FAR FAILED to implement the federal salmon plan, and its budgets leave our salmon high and dry.

* WAITING TOO LONG WILL LEAD TO EXTINCTION. The Salmon Planning Act will prepare the NW to act quickly if the federal plan continues to fail.

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WHAT IS THE SALMON PLANNING ACT? WHY DO WE NEED IT?

The Salmon Planning Act was developed in response to the Federal Salmon Plan, adopted in 2000. This current plan has been dubbed the "everything-but-dam-removal" plan because it ignores what scientists say is the most beneficial and effective thing we could to restore the salmon (removal of the 4 lower Snake River dams).

It instead focuses on other, more expensive and ineffective measures.

Few expect the plan to actually work:

***THE PLAN IS FLAWED: More than 500 scientists agree that, on the Snake River, dam removal needs to be the cornerstone of any credible recovery plan.

***THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION HAS FAILED to implement the federal salmon plan. It has only requested half of the needed funding in the last three years, and in its first 2 years, implemented less than a third of the measures.

***AND IT IS MOVING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION: The Bush Administration's budget request for FY 2004 is 5% less than 2003's already inadequate funding.

THE SALMON PLANNING ACT (SPA) was introduced as a backup plan to protect the NW if (when...) in fact the federal Salmon Plan fails. SPA will lay the groundwork so that the NW can act quickly and responsibly if the federal plan is deemed a failure.

SPA does 3 things: 1.) It reviews the current federal Salmon Plan -- an independent scientific analysis of the Bush Administration's failing recovery efforts;

2.) SPA will fund studies to determine the best ways to support communities, and improve the economy if we must remove four lower Snake River dams;

3.) It will authorize dam removal if key federal agencies determine that it is necessary to save wild salmon.

These are crucial steps towards saving wild salmon.

PLEASE CALL OR WRITE TODAY.

SUPPORT THE NW BACKUP PLAN...SUPPORT THE SALMON PLANNING ACT.

For more information on what you can do to help, go to http://www.wildsalmon.org