FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Wild Game Fish Conservation International Opposes Chehalis River Dam Olympia, Washington (February 27, 2012) - Wild Game Fish Conservation International (WGFCI) denounces construction of the proposed Lewis County Public Utilities District’s Chehalis River dam near Pe Ell, Washington on environmental, cultural and economic grounds. According to Bruce Treichler, WGFCI co-founder, “the soon-to-be-released Chehalis River Fish Study to explore the impacts of the proposed Chehalis River dam on the river’s salmon and trout reports that the dam and resulting reservoir will have a negative impact on environmentally-sensitive river and stream ecosystems above and below the proposed dam.” Additionally, the Chehalis Tribe and the Quinault Indian Nation (a member of the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission) rely on the Chehalis River, its tributaries and the surrounding land for fish, wildlife and other resources to support their unique cultures. Both tribes adamantly oppose this proposed dam Jim Wilcox, WGFCI co-founder, states that “several fish and wildlife species within the Chehalis River basin are listed either as Threatened or Endangered via the US Endangered Species Act. This fact is one of several major reasons to not proceed with plans to construct the proposed Chehalis River dam.” As has been reported, the proposed dam sited in the headwaters of the Chehalis River will not protect Interstate 5, the communities of Centralia and Chehalis, and the Chehalis-Centralia Airport from flooding; thus failing to protect local citizens and businesses from severe storms – the stated purpose for this dam. Effective and practical alternatives supported by Wild Game Fish Conservation International to prevent flood damage throughout the Chehalis River basin include an immediate and permanent curtailment of steep slope logging, in conjunction with reforestation, and an immediate and permanent curtailment of floodplain development. Continuing to ignore these important, common sense land use recommendations will lead to increased flood damage and loss of human life. Wild Game Fish Conservation International and our associates demand the protection of this very special river basin (the largest river basin within Washington State), its citizens and the many valuable environmental, cultural and economic benefits it provides year in and year out.
Contact: James Wilcox Co-founder - Wild Game Fish Conservation International (360) 352-7988