Gov. Gregoire, Montana, Upriver Tribes oppose plaintiffs' request for more water in Columbia River litigation

For Immediate Release: November 25, 2005

OLYMPIA - Nov. 25, 2005 - Governor Chris Gregoire, working with a regional coalition, opposes a request by plaintiffs to require less Columbia River water to be stored behind the dams and used for generating electricity next year. The proposal would potentially increase environmental health risks during the summer recreation period on Lake Roosevelt, create risks to Tribal sacred and cultural sites, and cause significant increases in regional power rates without providing clearly demonstrated benefits for salmon.

"What the plaintiffs are proposing will have bad impacts on real people and will not help save our salmon.," said Governor Gregoire.

On behalf of Washington State and working with Montana, the Kootenai Tribe of Idaho, the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, the Spokane Tribe of Indians and the BPA Customer Group, Gov. Gregoire has filed a legal brief opposing arguments that more water in the river and more water spilling over the dams are necessary pending completion of a new management system, referred to as a biological opinion, for the federal dams on the Columbia River.

In the brief filed earlier this week, Washington State and the regional coalition argued that the plaintiffs' proposals for next year's salmon operation would also have unintended and adverse impacts on other fish in the Columbia River.

"We cannot attempt to solve one problem by creating a host of others," said Gov. Gregoire. "I am very concerned that this proposal will cost our state dearly while delivering very little, if any, benefits for endangered salmon.

Gov. Gregoire said that the science with regard to salmon recovery is far from certain. "We have the plaintiffs arguing from one point of view, yet we have others arguing from another," she said. "The Court has asked us to move away from dueling science. There is also much uncertainty associated with the science. Clearly, we need a thorough and honest evaluation about the science and this must begin now."

In response to the plaintiffs' request, the coalition proposes alternative measures to benefit fish during the coming year, but also requests the court to order review of its spill alternatives by the region's Independent Scientific Advisory Board.

The coalition brief notes that the Columbia Basin is a vast area encompassing the jurisdiction and interests of four states, two countries, and 13 Tribal governments. While our immediate interests in regard to the proposals brought forward by the plaintiffs differ, "we are committed to coordinating and working with the plaintiffs, tribes, sister states, and the federal government to find regionally-based solutions. We believe the region can and must come together to develop solutions that have divided us," the brief states.

Harvey Moses, Jr., Chairman of the Colville Tribes' governing Business Council, said that The Colville Tribes are "pleased the regional coalition was able to come together not only to speak with one voice about the harm that the plaintiffs' proposal would cause to Lake Roosevelt and the Upper Basin, but also to demonstrate that there is a better, more collaborative way to address salmon recovery in the lower Columbia River."

Gov. Gregoire expressed appreciation to the state of Montana, the Kootenai Tribe of Idaho, the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, the Spokane Tribe of Indians, and the BPA customer group for developing this response to the plaintiffs' brief. "We have all seen the problems posed by this proposal, and we developed a response that we believe is the right thing both for fish recovery and the region."

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