“Your Power is Turning Our Darkness to Dawn…”

A River Lost: The Life and Death of the Columbia

Today our attitudes about dams have changed; while we still use and enjoy the power that comes from hydroelectric dams we regret other changes that dams have wrought, especially decreased salmon runs.

The Seattle Times just published an Op-ed about bringing salmon back to the Cle Elum in the Yakima River Basin by Virgil Lewis, titled “Celebrating and supporting the return of the Cle Elum Sockeye.” Check out National Wildlife Federation’s work with American Rivers and other conservation groups on the Yakima River Basin here.

So while we still need electricity and stored water, agencies and non-profits are working to bring back salmon runs and healthier river ecosystems, whether it’s by tearing down dams or by improving fish passages around dams.

Meanwhile, in Alaska, plans are underway to build new hydroelectric projects such as one planned on the Susitna River. You can learn more about this project here.

Our questions about “A River Lost: The life and Death of the Columbia” from last month are repeated here, and in addition to the questions posed last month, we’d like to request some thoughts from you, the reader, about hydroelectric power and irrigation projects in the Northwest and around the world.

Discussion Questions (please join the discussion in the comments below):

• The might of the Columbia now produces clean, cheap energy which helps reduce the impact of many Northwest cities. This clean energy comes at a price, however, as the dams have compromised our salmon runs. Is this reward worth the impact on our salmon?
• Like many great rivers the Columbia’s water has been used to bring agriculture to the desert. Without the dams, agriculture would not be able to thrive in these areas, but is comes at a great cost, reducing the amount of water in the river and in the case of some it means that these great rivers have run dry. Is this an appropriate use of our rivers or should we ensure that they are able to thrive along side of us?

January/February’s Book: Shell Games

“Forget CSI—this is the real deal, tracking down the greediest kinds of criminals as they plunder the planet’s future.” – Bill McKibben

Shell Games: Rogues, Smuggler and the Hunt for Natures Bounty

While the big bust in September was focused on poachers of game like deer and elk, and even the restaurants buying and serving the game, poachers go after all types and sizes of fish and wildlife, as long as there’s a market. Even clams.

Apparently, geoduck poaching is a problem here in Puget Sound, and “Shell Games” features the story of undercover operatives who try to catch these shellfish poachers. (Geoducks are a type of clam.)

As long as there is a market for illegal fish and wildlife products, this battle is likely to continue, but government agencies and non-profits are doing what they can to educate the public about this growing problem, here and around the world.

Questions for your consideration as you explore this topic:

• Poachers can be motivated by different goals, some want to make money; others take fish or wildlife for food on their own tables. Some simply want trophies. Are any of these reasons acceptable to you? Why or why not? Does it depend on the relative health of the species in question?
• Enforcement is limited due to budgets and the sheer size of the areas to patrol. Would you like to see more revenue going to support enforcement?
• Have you ever eaten game meat in a restaurant? If so, did you ask where it came from and whether it was legally obtained?
• Do you know how to report poaching, and how to stay safe while doing so?

This Month’s Book: Wild

Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail, by Cheryl Strayed follows a young woman through tragedies and trials through her healing on the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT). An inexperienced outdoors woman, Strayed embarked on a two month journey to try and find herself, her family, and a previously unattainable peace in her mind and heart. The trail provides a backdrop to her journey, guiding her through her own history and helping repair a rift in her heart.

Join in the Conversation

Getting out into nature is a wonderful way to push yourself, become closer to nature and the world around you. Hiking, camping, and generally getting out into the natural world is beneficial for all of us! Many of us use nature as a form of therapy, escaping to the coast, mountains, or desert to calm our nerves and rejuvenate ourselves. These experiences range from a few hours to a few months but are important. Strayed was lucky enough to be able to be able to experience the wild of the PCT.

The PCT is a 2,650–mile long trail which runs through Washington, Oregon and California from the border of Mexico to Canada. Travelers along the trail pass through desolate deserts and climb high mountain passes. It shows these adventurers the meaning of hot, dry, cold and wet. It brings you closer to yourself, nature and your companions on the trail.

While reading, the following questions came to my mind. Please use the comment section below to start or join in a conversation about the book.

• Strayed used the experiences on the trail to learn more about herself and to help herself heal. How have you used nature to help you in times of trial?
• From the beginning, Strayed shows an ignorance of the trail, such as her overly heavy pack, her lack of training, or knowledge of things like navigation. Do these trials show her strength and ability to succeed despite these hurdles or make her simply lucky to have survived?
• The PCT is a huge investment of time, something that most of us do not have. Can you have a similar experience on a shorter trip, such as one that lasts a week?

November/December’s Book

The NWF book club is changing from a book every month to one every two months. This session we will be reading A River Lost: The life and Death of the Columbia by Blaine Harden. Through the book we follow the history of the Columbia from a powerful, wild river filled with salmon to the mechanized river that we know today. Its power has changed from one of a crashing, wild river to the hum of power generation from dams and the water being pumped from the river to supply water for desert agriculture. The once abundant salmon have greatly diminished.

Questions while reading:

• The might of the Columbia now produces clean, cheap energy which helps reduce the impact of many Northwest cities. This clean energy comes at a price, however, as the dams have compromised our salmon runs. Is this reward worth the impact on our salmon?
• Like many great rivers the Columbia’s water has been used to bring agriculture to the desert. Without the dams, agriculture would not be able to thrive in these areas, but is comes at a great cost, reducing the amount of water in the river and in the case of some it means that these great rivers have run dry. Is this an appropriate use of our rivers or should we ensure that they are able to thrive along side of us?

Here you can see him talking to the group about an amphibian house that they have created. It is a simple design where they have buried a door in the soil and covered it with leaf litter to create great habitat for our reptile and amphibian neighbors.

You can create wildlife habitat like this as well! In a few simple steps you too can enjoy wildlife like frogs and lizards right in your backyard!

Want to know more? The National Wildlife Federation has tons of ideas to help you bring wildlife to your backyard!