Northwest Steelheaders said:Support the Endangered Salmon and Fisheries Predation Act
In early August, the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife published a report stating there is a 90 percent probability that at least one population of wild Willamette River steelhead will go extinct due to the presence of California sea lions at Willamette Falls.
Dr. Shaun Clements from ODFW said of the problem: "We know what the problem is and have seen this coming for about a decade, we just couldn't take action to prevent it."
Read the full report here.
Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-Battle Ground) introduced HR 2083-The Endangered Salmon and Fisheries Predation Act, which will allow local resource managers to protect native salmon and steelhead runs by lethally removing sea lions from problem areas like Willamette Falls.
Read Rep. Herrera Beutler's article in The Columbian.
Rep. Herrera Beutler states that although her bill has bipartisan support in the U.S. House, Oregon and Washington's senators must support it in the U.S. Senate. The Congress is currently on recess; help make sure this bill is at the forefront of their minds when they resume session on Sept. 5.
Please take a minute and write to your senators to express your support for, and the importance of the Endangered Salmon and Fisheries Predation Act :
Oregon
Contact Senator Ron Wyden
Contact Senator Jeff Merkley
Washington
Contact Senator Maria Cantwell
Contact Senator Patty Murray
Thank you!
Why haven't we heard of this sooner?
Herrera Beutler: To save steelhead, we must cut sea lion numbers
Text - H.R.2083 - 115th Congress (2017-2018): Endangered Salmon and Fisheries Predation Prevention Act
I'm sure those 4 are totally against this (because it might actually have an effect), but I guess it's worth a try.
Ray