The latest September-October 2022 issue of Water Resources IMPACT has hit the streets and I will feature its 9 articles as I previously did with the July-August issue that focused on Hydrophilanthropy. The current issue focuses on Pacific Northwest Water.
I will start with the lead article by my friend and colleague Robert T. Lackey. As far as I'm concerned, Bob is 'Mr. PNW Salmon' The title of his article is The Great Pacific Northwest Salmon Conundrum:
Download Lackey_Salmon_PNW_IMPACT
Here are the first few paragraphs - click on the graphics to expand them.
When people think of the U.S. Pacific Northwest he iconic salmon often come to mind. Although universally treasured, wild salmon are well on their way to disappearing from the region (Oregon, Washington, and Idaho). Why? Certainly not for lack of concern or because society has been unwilling to spend money to save them. In fact, many billions have been spent on salmon recovery. A large, well-funded “salmon recovery industry” has long thrived in the region, and there appears to be no end to this funding stream.
Indeed, the sheer amount of research focused on salmon is greater than any other fish in the world. As a result, we have quite a clear picture of these animals, their environment, and what has caused their long-term decline. But the reality is that despite the massive sums spent on salmon science, Pacific Northwest wild salmon runs—or the mass migration of salmon to spawn in the upper reaches of rivers—continue to decline.
In other words, this is not a policy challenge that can be solved with more science. It is, rather, a question of political will. And therein lies the rub.
Wild salmon decline is a natural resource policy conundrum. Everyone supports the recovery of these popular and iconic species and a steady flow of money continues to fund an army of scientists and other technical experts tasked with reversing the decline. But a reversal in declining salmon populations will remain unachievable unless there are substantive public policy changes, some of them politically contentious.
Great reading!
"Assuming the most likely rate of human population growth in the U.S. Pacific Northwest there will be somewhere between 35 and 45 million people by the year 2100. Based on experience elsewhere the devastating consequences for wild salmon in the region are predictable." - Robert T. Lackey (from the article)
Aha, I just found the live links in Robert Lackey's article which will more than answer my prior question! Thank you.
Posted by: Shelley Macy | Wednesday, 22 November 2023 at 12:54 PM
Hello,
I am interested in influencing the WA State Legislature through activism with my Grange for salmon recovery. What are the public policy issues we need to address? I would like more information.
Posted by: Shelley Macy | Wednesday, 22 November 2023 at 12:44 PM