Four dams on the Snake River in Washington State have pushed salmon to the brink of extinction, threatening not just the species but the broader ecosystem, the culture of Native American tribes, and the region’s economy. This crisis led the Snake to be named America’s Most Endangered River in 2021 by American Rivers as explained in this episode by Amy Souers Kober, Vice President of Communications for American Rivers, and Lisa McClane, a consultant for American Rivers. Amy and Lisa discuss a proposal to save the Snake River by Congressman Mike Simpson that would remove the dams, recover salmon populations, provide irrigation for local agriculture, and invest in clean energy.
waterloop is made possible in part by grants from Spring Point Partners and the Walton Family Foundation.