A River Lost, A River Found: Historic Images of a Free-Flowing Lower Snake River

The Pre-Dam Lower Snake River

On Thursday, April 23, 2009, Jerry White of Save Our Wild Salmon Coalition (SOS) in Spokane will present a slide show featuring over 60 historic photographs of the lower Snake River taken between 1905 and 1975. Assembled from several photographers, museums, and historical societies across the inland Northwest, this collection of images documents the culture, landscape, and habitats of the lower Snake River canyons before inundation by four federal dams. These photographs reveal many lost values of the river and provide a powerful visual reminder of the potential benefits for the regional community of dam removal and river restoration.

This presentation coincides with the launch of SOS’s Working Snake River Project and intends to further stimulate public dialogue about management of lower Snake River lands, waters, and salmonid runs. The Project embodies SOS’s commitment to supporting solutions to the current salmon crisis that work for fishermen, farmers, inland agricultural towns, and coastal communities. Replacing four costly, outdated dams with investments in modernized rail systems and clean energy development would restore the river and salmon while enhancing the regional economy and quality of life. A free-flowing lower Snake River would also increase opportunities for fishing, boating, hiking, and other family recreation and improve fish and wildlife habitat.

Co-hosted by SOS, the WSU Museum of Anthropology, and Friends of the Clearwater, this public education event will take place at 7:00 p.m. in Room 202 of the Smith Center for Undergraduate Education on the Washington State University campus in Pullman, Washington. SOS is a coalition of sport fishing groups and businesses, conservation organizations, commercial fishermen, clean energy advocates, taxpayer groups, and others working to restore wild salmon and steelhead to the Columbia and Snake rivers.