Merkley, Oregon Delegation Decry Sudden Loss of Columbia River Hatchery Funding

Merkley, Oregon Delegation Decry Sudden Loss of Columbia River Hatchery Funding

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Oregon's U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and the Oregon Congressional Delegation members Senator Ron Wyden, and Representatives Andrea Salinas (OR-06), Janelle Bynum (OR-05), Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Val Hoyle (OR-04), and Maxine Dexter (OR-03) decried the decision of Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) to abruptly end its participation in the Safe Area Fisheries Enhancement (SAFE) program. The SAFE program has been operational since 1993, and provides reliable stocks of hatchery raised fish including Spring chinook and coho salmon for Pacific Northwest commercial and recreational fisheries in the Lower Columbia River Basin.

"The loss of SAFE program funding from BPA puts the entire program at risk and is anticipated to have devastating, regional impacts on Columbia River native fish populations. Hatcheries are a critical regional resource. Estimates show that approximately 80% of the salmon and steelhead that return to the Columbia River Basin were hatched and reared in fish hatcheries. The SAFE program produces millions of hatchery fish each year, providing relief for stocks of Endangered Species Act-listed fish while also supporting the region's world class commercial fishing industries and recreational fishers alike," write the lawmakers.

BPA's decision to end SAFE, that has provided hatchery funding for over 30 years, came with minimal notice and will create a nearly $2.4 million shortfall to be shared by Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW), Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), and Clatsop County. According to ODFW, more than 7 million hatchery salmon currently in production are at immediate risk. Without this funding, ODFW may be forced to close SAFE funded hatcheries and potentially cull the millions of salmon and eggs the agency will no longer be able to support.

"When BPA shared its intent to terminate the SAFE program with its non-federal sponsors, the agency provided its partners with less than four months to accommodate for the loss of this critical stream of funding. However, work to produce next year's stock of hatchery fish has already begun," emphasized the Oregon Congressional Delegation.

The lawmakers concluded, "We urge BPA to reconsider its decision to walk back on its partnership with regional stakeholders to support fish mitigation activities through the SAFE program. Without strong collective action, communication, and trust, the hardworking stakeholders in the region won't be able to overcome challenges of diminishing salmon populations and energy security. Further, walking back on the SAFE program stands in opposition to the President's Executive Order 14276 on Restoring American Seafood Competitiveness. We encourage BPA to fulfill its obligations, and renew its contracts with ODFW, WDFW, and Clatsop County to provide certainty in critical fish stocks in our region."

Full text of the letter sent by the Oregon Congressional delegation can be found by clicking here and follows below:

Dear Administrator Kavulla:

We write to express our significant concern with the Bonneville Power Administration's (BPA) recent decision to end its participation in the Select Area Fisheries Management (SAFE) program. The SAFE program has been operational since 1993, providing reliable stocks of Spring chinook and coho salmon for Pacific Northwest commercial and recreational fisheries. We strongly urge BPA to reconsider its actions and commit to renewing its SAFE program contracts to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW), the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), and Clatsop County.

The loss of SAFE program funding from BPA puts the entire program at risk and is anticipated to have devastating, regional impacts on Columbia River native fish populations. Hatcheries are a critical regional resource. Estimates show that approximately 80% of the salmon and steelhead that return to the Columbia River Basin were hatched and reared in fish hatcheries.^[1] The SAFE program produces millions of hatchery fish each year, providing relief for stocks of Endangered Species Act-listed fish while also supporting the region's world class commercial fishing industries and recreational fishers alike.

When BPA shared its intent to terminate the SAFE program with its non-federal sponsors, the agency provided its partners with less than four months to accommodate for the loss of this critical stream of funding. However, work to produce next year's stock of hatchery fish has already begun. BPA's decision to no longer support the SAFE program will jeopardize seven million fish that are currently being raised to be released into rivers next spring and will no longer be able to be supported by current funding schemes. It is likely that the hatchery will have to be closed and fish may be culled.

Further, the Northwest Power & Conservation Council, the organization that provides advice to BPA on its activities to mitigate the loss of fish populations, has long supported the SAFE program. In its most recent recommendations to BPA, the Council recommended that BPA renew its contracts for the program to continue to address the loss of salmon populations in the Columbia Basin.^[2] It is disappointing that BPA cannot heed the advice of the organization designed to work with partners on this regional issue.

We urge BPA to reconsider its decision to walk back on its partnership with regional stakeholders to support fish mitigation activities through the SAFE program. Without strong collective action, communication, and trust, the hardworking stakeholders in the region won't be able to overcome challenges of diminishing salmon populations and energy security. Further, walking back on the SAFE program stands in opposition to the President's Executive Order 14276 on Restoring American Seafood Competitiveness. We encourage BPA to fulfill its obligations, and renew its contracts with ODFW, WDFW, and Clatsop County to provide certainty in critical fish stocks in our region.

^[1] National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). (2024, August 15). Federal Columbia River Power System Mitigation Actions. NOAA Fisheries. https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/west-coast/endangered-species-conservation/federal-columbia-river-power-system-mitigation-actions

^[2] Independent Scientific Review Panel for the Northwest Power & Conservation Council. (2022, February 10). Final Report: Review of Anadromous Fish Habitat and Hatchery. P.88-91.

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