What: FREE THE SNAKE! Flotilla is a rally and gathering of people to celebrating wild salmon and steelhead and calling for the restoration of the Northwest’s endangered fish and the lower Snake River by removing its four deadly, high-cost, low value dams.
When: Friday evening, Sept. 8 and Saturday, Sept. 9, 2017
Last year more than 400 people from throughout the Pacific Northwest came together on the water in support of the return of a free-flowing lower Snake River. This year, river, salmon and orca advocates, tribal members, anglers, and others will gather again on the river to Free the Snake!
Here’s a chance to experience the lower Snake River for yourself and learn more about why removing four dams is so critical to restoring salmon, orcas, lamprey; and why it is necessary to honor treaties with Native American tribes. These four dams impede salmon from reaching the largest piece of intact salmon habitat left in the Lower 48 – thousands of miles of pristine river habitat across millions of acres in Idaho, northeast Oregon and southeast Washington. Meanwhile, the benefits these dams have declined dramatically while their costs to both salmon and taxpayers have grown.
The need for dam removal grows more urgent every day. The Columbia-Snake basin has suffered huge salmon and steelhead losses due to the dams’ impacts. This year, we are witnessing the lowest return of wild Snake River steelhead seen in many decades. It’s time to stand up for our rivers and our salmon and steelhead to bring back the abundant runs our rivers can support – if given half a chance.
This year’s rally on the water begins at Chief Timothy State Park Saturday morning near Clarkston. People in canoes, kayaks, paddleboards and other watercraft will travel downriver for three miles and then return to the park. We’ll host speakers, music and camping Friday and Saturday nights at the Park:
- Friday will feature several tribal speakers followed by Spokane’s Folkinception.
- Saturday’s after-celebration will include music featuring Smackout Pack and Atlas Hugged.
Visit our Free the Snake Facebook Page – please “like” and share it with your networks!
Join us September 8 and 9, 2017 when we’ll say with one clear voice: it’s time to remove four outdated, low-value, deadbeat dams on the lower Snake River. It’s time to free the Snake!
TO REGISTER AND GET ALL THE DETAILS re: camping, watercraft, schedule at the SOS website and/or www.
