Take Action: Cold Water for Salmon

Oregon’s Plan for Cold Water

Support a Water Quality Management Plan with strategies and actions to keep the Columbia and Lower Snake rivers cool enough for salmon.

The Columbia River is too hot for salmon, and dams and reservoirs are a major reason why. Now, the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality has released a draft Water Quality Management Plan for public comment. 

The draft Plan would require the Army Corps of Engineers to implement management strategies to help keep the Columbia cool, as required by the Clean Water Act and EPA’s heat pollution budget for the Columbia and Lower Snake rivers.

The draft Plan also calls for a comprehensive, holistic analysis of all dam-related measures that could provide meaningful temperature benefits.

This is important. But dam agencies and industry lobbying groups are trying to weaken the Oregon’s draft plan. We need your support to advocate for salmon and the people and cultures that rely on them.

Ready to take action? Sign the petition below.

Keep the Columbia and Lower Snake rivers cool enough for salmon.

To the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality:

I support action to reduce heat pollution and make the Columbia River cool enough for salmon.

The draft Water Quality Management Plan that Oregon DEQ has proposed is an important tool and a unique opportunity. I support Oregon DEQ’s proposal to require the Army Corps to develop real strategies and measures to reduce heat pollution from dams and reservoirs — and meet the temperature-reduction goals for the dams set by EPA.

Columbia River Basin salmon, and the people who value and rely on them, are depending on you to help solve the hot water problem. I urge Oregon DEQ to adopt a plan that holds the Army Corps accountable for the heat pollution caused by federal dams and reservoirs.

Sincerely,