The Government Contract Failing Idaho’s Salmon and Steelhead
You are not to blame if you’ve never heard of the “Fish Accord”.
It’s not a process the public was allowed to participate in. It has failed. And it seems Idaho is ready to extend the failing federal plan amidst the lowest fish numbers in Idaho history.
Summary: The Accord is a government contract negotiated between Idaho’s Governor and the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA). In exchange for money, the State of Idaho forfeited its sovereignty to fight for its own fish. By signing the Accord, Idaho became legally incapable of challenging the feds’ failing salmon and steelhead recovery efforts, unable to even speak out against them.
Who is BPA? BPA is the federal agency that sells power generated by Columbia and lower Snake River federal dams.
What is the Accord? In 2008, BPA entered into 10-year Accords with some (not all) Northwest states and tribes, including Idaho. The Accord stipulates that BPA give Idaho money “to mitigate for the effects on fish and wildlife from…dams and reservoir projects”. In return for money, Idaho agreed to support federal dam operations (spill, fish barging, flows, etc.) and their salmon/steelhead recovery plans, but forfeited its right to challenge BPA’s court or agency proceedings no matter the outcome. In short, Idaho surrendered its ability to challenge, object, or criticize federal recovery efforts for Idaho’s fish, even if those efforts fail – as they have. This current Accord expires September 30 this year.
Where do Accord funds go? Idaho spent its Accord funds in three buckets: to fund staff positions; to build a sockeye hatchery at Springfield; and to help fund spawning habitat restoration in the Salmon and Clearwater watersheds. Most of these restoration projects are measurably good. Yet in the lifetime of the Accord, salmon and steelhead numbers have plummeted and continue to nosedive. The federal strategy to recover Idaho fish has failed, but the Accord has prevented Idaho from even objecting, much less fight to change it.
Total hatchery steelhead at Lower Granite dam as of Sept. 11th are at 14% the ten-year average. There are not enough fish on the way to change the numbers much.
Accord funds have not brought fish back – will Idaho sign another one? Sounds like it. A 4-year “Accord Extension” has been drafted by BPA and Idaho, to be signed at the end of this month. Most astounding is that BPA and the Governor’s office are touting that the Extension will “build upon the success of the original agreements.” Is the Governor’s office not getting the news that Idaho’s salmon and steelhead are in steep decline? Are fewer fish and less fishing a “success”? As of September 11th, hatchery steelhead returns over Lower Granite dam are only 14% of the ten-year average.
What can be done? There are a few reasons Idaho’s salmon and steelhead are nearing extinction and we will write about them in-depth soon. But signing an extension of an Accord that was an irrefutable failure is a mistake (what is that saying about trying the same thing and expecting different results?). Governor Otter is on his way out and should not saddle the next Governor with another failing plan. He needs to hear from you. Our Senators and Congressmen in DC can help us avoid this mistake. They need to hear from you.
You can send a letter to all of them using the format provided below, but a personal message asking the Governor to refuse to sign a new Accord can be emailed to Governor@gov.idaho.gov or even mailed the old fashioned way too (address below). You can call his phone, (208) 334-2100, to ask he not sign a new Accord. But no matter what, if you care about Idaho salmon and steelhead, take action in some way. Our fish, and a way of life, are circling the drain.
Office of the Governor
State Capitol
P.O. Box 83720
Boise, ID 83720
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