The Southern Resident Orcas are nearing extinction. While there are a total of 73 Orcas in L, J and K pods, there is currently only a few males of reproductive age among them, and nearly every calf born in the last 5 years has died. They are starving to death, and the only way to bring them back is to restore the only food source on which they rely, and that is Salmon. The 4 Lower Snake River Dams (Ice Harbor Dam, Lower Monumental Dam, Little Goose Dam & Lower Granite Dam) are obsolete and killing Salmon at an exorbitant rate. The dams cause summer temperatures in the Snake River to rise above the temperature at which spawning Salmon can survive, the young Salmon descending the river are killed at a high rate when passing through the dams’ turbines, and the invasive species that live in the reservoirs (like Bass) prey on the young Salmon, furthering their demise.

With the addition of Solar and Wind Power in the region, the price of electricity generated no longer supports the expensive upkeep of the dams and the dredging of the locks. Bonneville Power Administration, the body governing the dams has lost $800,000,000 in the last 10 years as a result. The movement of grain by barge is also operating at a loss, requiring a $21,000 subsidy for each barge trip taken. The Army Corps of Engineers completed a $23,000,000 study on the dams in 2002 concluding that they should be removed, but have failed to act. Consistent with this conclusion are two reports from the Biden administration, one from NOAA and another from Governor Inslee and Senator Murry. All 5 of these reports are in agreement, and it is high time to transport the grain by rail and remove the dams.