Watch Scott's full film here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmIu...

The four lower Snake River dams transformed this once highly productive river and prolific salmon migration corridor into a series of stagnant reservoirs creating unhealthy, hot, toxic river conditions, including increasingly prominent and dangerous toxic algal blooms.

Scott Putnam worked for decades as a Regional Wild Salmon and Steelhead Trout Fisheries Biologist. After retiring in 2024, he’s spent much of his time documenting the presence of toxic algal blooms on the lower Snake River and their impact on fish and local communities.

It’s time see a healthy river again so our communities can recreate safely, endangered salmon can migrate without added stress, and ecosystems can thrive. #StopSalmonExtinction #FreeTheSnake

The lower Snake River have transformed the ecosystem from a healthy free-flowing river into a series of slow-moving reservoirs that trap heat throughout the summer. They have made our river sick and unsafe for people, pets, and ecosystems.

Toxic Algal Blooms aren’t just dangerous for the aquatic ecosystems, including the salmon that migrate through them. They also are harmful to humans and their pets, containing unsafe levels of microcystins, which can cause liver damage and other adverse health effects.

We need to encourage the Council to reassert its intended leadership role in undoing the vast damage hydropower development has done to fish and wildlife throughout the region.
Sign the petition to urge the Council to hold BPA accountable! tinyurl.com/powercouncilpetition

BPA told the council it should completely abandon its long-held yet unmet goal of 5 million annual returning adult salmon and steelhead, and remove ANY legal obligation for BPA to recover salmon and steelhead.

Right now, the Northwest Power and Conservation Council is working on amendments to update its fish and wildlife program. As part of this process, the Bonneville Power Administration's (BPA) submitted recommendations thatwere shockingly obtuse and retrograde.

Weren't able to make it but still want to take action? Check out SOS' website at wildsalmon.org/take-action

Together, we showed our region’s dedication to salmon recovery and a free-flowing lower Snake River. We also remembered the community found in advocacy—hearing from inspiring Tribal speakers, enjoying a film screening of The Grand Salmon, and creating salmon prints.

#StopSalmonExtinction #FreeTheSnakeRiver #SaveSalmon #SaveOrca