From: alra@governance.net
Subject: Snake-Columbia Court Decision -- Greens Busing People To Clarkston Hea
Land Rights Network
American Land Rights Association
PO Box 400 – Battle Ground, WA 98604
Phone: 360-687-3087 – Fax: 360-687-2973
E-mail: alra@landrights.org or alra@governance.net
Web Address: http://www.landrights.org
Legislative Office: 507 Seward Square SE – Washington, DC 20003
Snake-Columbia Court Decision -- Greens Busing People To Clarkston Hearing
The House Resources Committee is holding a hearing in Clarkston, Monday, June 6th. The hearing is scheduled for Mon., June 6 at 9:30 a.m. at the Quality Inn and Suites Conference Center, 700 Port Drive, Clarkston, WA.
You need to be there. You don’t want another Spotted Owl cultural genocide on the Columbia and Snake Rivers.
A copy of the Greens E-mail is printed at the bottom.
***Attention: Farmers, ranchers, irrigators, landowners, barge owners, electric ratepayers and anyone who lives in the Columbia – Snake River basins. The spin off from economic activity on the Columbia and Snake rivers means the money circulates through the community six times or more. You need to send a message in Clarkston that you will not tolerate another Spotted Owl land takeover in the Columbia-Snake River Basins.
The following decision by Judge Redden spells economic disaster for major parts of Eastern Washington, Eastern Oregon, much of Idaho, Montana and even small parts of Wyoming, Utah and California.
In the Columbia River Biological Opinion Case the National Marine Fisheries Service Argued that Dams and many of their functions are congressionally mandated and part of the baseline not subject to ESA. The National Wildlife Federation argued that these activities should not be exempt. Judge Redden decision agreed with the enviro argument.
This means that if necessary to achieve the flow level desired by the environmentalists, irrigation water under Bureau of Reclamation contract or permitted by Washington Oregon or Idaho could be curtailed to satisfy fish. It also means river depths could be lowered preventing navigation. And it means spills can be required, which eliminate the production of power.
Under the Redden decision the dams could all remain in place and much of their purpose and value be lost. Everything is on the chopping block with this decision.
This means that if necessary to achieve the flow level desired by the environmentalists, irrigation water under Bureau of Reclamation contract or permitted by Washington Oregon or Idaho could be curtailed to satisfy fish.
It also means river depths could be lowered preventing navigation. And it means spills can be required, which eliminate the production of power.
Under the Redden decision the dams could all remain in place and much of their purpose and value be lost. Everything is on the chopping block with this decision.
Action Items:
-----1. You need to go to Clarkston to be at the hearing Monday morning, June 6th.
-----5. You can testimony about your concerns with the Endangered Species Act (ESA) at the Clarkston Hearing by printing out four Testimony Questionnaires from www.landrights.org
Fax them to the Resources Committee at (202) 225-5929,
-----2. Call your Congressman to urge his support for updating and modernizing the Endangered Species Act. Any Congressman may be called at (202) 225-3121.
-----3. Call both your Senators to urge their support to fix the Endangered Species Act so it really recovers species but does not hurt people. Any Senator may be called at (202) 224-3121.
-----4. Be sure to ask for your Congressman and Senators fax and e-mail addresses when you call. Follow up your calls with a fax or e-mail.
From the Greens:
Dear Friends of the BIG FISH:
As you likely know, there's a formal Congressional Hearing this coming Mon., JUNE 6th in Clarkston, WA (Lewiston, ID) that will deal with SALMON, STEELHEAD, the ESA/Endangered Species Act, and the Lower Snake River.
While we realize the timing is less then ideal, this truly is a VERY unique opportunity to help the big fish in real ways, especially following our huge lawsuit victory from last week!
The rally and press conference will take place before the 9:30 am start of the hearing. Our message is simple, "Salmon Mean Business," and salmon related businesses are vitally important to our economy, especially in rural areas. The federal government in its salmon recovery plan that was just ruled illegal (again) last week wants to spend $6 billion of your tax dollars over the next ten years on the same old failures-"fixing" dams to make them more "salmon friendly" and trucking and barging fish on highways and around the dams while wheat goes down the river! With $6 billion, we can have healthy salmon and steelhead runs and the businesses that depend on the fish, profitable and healthy farming communities, good transportation systems (including roads and rail) for moving inland products to westside ports, other infrastructure improvement projects, a better quality of life, a better economy, and much more in eastern WA, eastern OR, and ID! Please come show your support at our rally, press conference, and then at the hearing.
On VERY early Mon. morning, we're prepared to rent some vans or a bus or two if there's enough interest out there to make this happen, so please check your calendars and advise us if you or others you know would make the trip. We can consider a bus that leaves the Spokane area and goes south along HWY. 95 thr. Coeur D'Alene and Moscow and perhaps another leaving from Spokane that stops in Pullman. There's also discussion of a bus coming from the Riggins area. Maybe one from Missoula too?
FYI-Especially after our huge showing at the NEPA Hearing here in Spokane, I can absolutely assure you that our opposition is definitely planning to be there (their info. is also pasted below).
Thank you, Chase, 509.990-0170 or 456-8802.
Urgent Action for the BIG FISH ! Please, your help is needed!
Attention:
Idaho Rivers United members, Sierra Club members, salmon and steelhead activists, conservation organizations, business partners and those who care about protecting Idaho's great wild rivers and wild places!
On Monday, June 6, a subcommittee of the U.S. House of Representatives Resources Committee will be holding field hearings in Clarkston, Washington on the subject of: "Keeping the Snake River a Working River."
Especially after our HUGE victory in the courts yesterday, you can probably guess where this one's headed?!?
Chaired by Rep. George Radanovich, R-California, chairman of the subcommittee on water and power, and attended by Rep. Butch Otter, R-Idaho, and Rep. Cathy McMorris, R-Washington, this session will likely turn into a pep rally for keeping the lower Snake River dams in place, even at the expense of Idaho, Washington, and Oregon's imperiled salmon and steelhead populations and the communities and economies that depend on the fish.
We can't let this Congressional circus go unanswered! Here's what you can please do:
® Join us and our allies for a pre-hearing rally and press conference, beginning at 7:30 a.m., on Monday, June 6 at the Quality Inn in Clarkston. Plan on spending the morning, attending our 9 a.m. press conference and at least some of the hearing. ® Bring friends, and boats on trailers, or boats on top of trucks! Rafts, drift boats, jet boats. We want to make a visual scene. ® Bring your salmon and steelhead fishing rods! ® Our goal * let members of Congress and members of the media know that Salmon Mean Business! A restored salmon and steelhead fishery in Idaho could bring $544 million a year to the Gem State alone. Sport fishing, tribal fisheries and the river communities that depend on salmon and steelhead fishing are just as important economically as any of the industries supported by the dams. We can have both salmon and healthy economies!
Please let us know if you can attend this important event or help organize in your community.
We'll get more information out next week. Meanwhile, thanks in advance!
Congressional Field Hearing to Ensure the Lower Snake River is a Working River
Where: Quality Inn - Clarkston, Washington
When: Monday, June 6, 2005 at 9:30 am
What: A subcommittee of the House Resources Committee, chaired by
Richard Pombo (R-California) field hearing.
Who: Rep. Butch Otter, R-Idaho and Cathy McMorris (R-Washington)
from southeastern Washington [Spokane, Pullman, Carkston] are
the local congressional participants in the hearing that will be chaired
by George Radanovich, R-California, chairman of the subcommittee
on water and power. The schedule will be formalized next week
(May 31-June 3) listing the invited participants that will testify.
Why: Members of Congress including Doc Hastings, R-Washington &
Mike Simpson, R-Idaho sent a letter to Richard Pombo asking for a
field hearing in Clarkston, WA because they have concerns that
Endangered Species Act protections for salmon and steelhead have
affected every aspect of the economy.
"The region is already experiencing higher than average unemployment. Eliminating our water, power and transportation resources would make matters worse," said the congressmen in their letter.
Other congressional concerns: A federal judge has stopped the Corps of Engineers from dredging the local ports because of claims from environmentalists that there would be harm to salmon and steelhead. The viability of the ports are at stake said an Otter spokesman said.
Here's what came from the Save the Dams folks:
Washington Farm Bureau
IMPORTANT ALERT ON A CONGRESSIONAL HEARING AND RALLY TO SAVE THE DAMS ON THE COLUMBIA AND SNAKE RIVER SYSTEMS.
PLEASE PARTICIPATE & FORWARD THE INFORMATION!
We've Gotta Ask
When it comes to keeping the dams operating on the Columbia/Snake River system, would you agree with:
-- Steve Appel, President of Washington Farm Bureau, who wants to maintain the dams and keep them operating?
or
-- Jim McDermott, Seattle Congressman, who wants to remove 4 dams, just for starters?
Keep the Columbia-Snake River Working for All of Us!
CONGRESSIONAL HEARING ALERT!
The U.S. House Subcommittee on Water and Power will conduct a field hearing on "Keeping the Columbia/Snake a Working River" in Clarkston, Washington, on Monday, June 6, 2005 at 9:30 a.m.
Quality Inn and Suites Conference Center, 700 Port Drive, in Clarkston
The hearing will focus on the many economic, cultural and natural activities that make the Columbia/Snake a working river system.
Washington Farm Bureau President Steve Appel will testify at the hearing in support of maintaining the economic use of the Columbia/Snake River system and maintaining the dams. Congressman Jim McDermott will testify about his bill to destroy four dams on the Columbia/Snake River system.
RALLY BEFORE THE HEARING!
Monday, June 6, 2005 at 8:00 a.m.
Meet at the parking lot to show your support, Quality Inn & Suites
Conference Center, 700 Port Drive, in Clarkston.
Let's show Congress and the media that real people want the rivers used for everyone! Then, go inside and support those testifying at the hearing.
For more info, contact Gary Joiner at 360-357-9975
Congress is coming to Clarkston. Let them hear your voices. Ask your friends & neighbors to join in!
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