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Salmon Plan by David A. Cannamela Idaho Statesman, January 16, 2022

Congressman Mike Simpson should be re-elected because of his Columbia River restoration proposal, not in spite of it. Simpson's proposal is good for Idahoans, all Idahoans and all Americans.

His proposal not only replaces but upgrades the services provided by the four Lower Snake River dams. It leads to truly clean, renewable energy along with upgraded irrigation and (grain) transportation systems. And of course, his proposal, which hinges on restoration of a free-flowing lower Snake River, puts abundant, sustainable, harvestable salmon, steelhead and lamprey back into our lives.

What does this really mean?

We need only to look at the outcomes of river restoration (dam removal) initiatives on the Elwha, Kennebec and hundreds of other rivers to realize that, among other things, river restoration means:

• Rebirth and Revitalization of cultures, religions, and traditions
• Long-overdue social justice, especially for Native Americans
• Economic revitalization and sustainability, particularly for river/fish-based communities
• Ecological richness and security
• Idaho's anadromous fish nourish everything from the most diminutive creatures in the Stanley Basin to six-ton Orcas.