8/6/2019 Pacific Seafood Letter to Elected Officials (2)

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Pacific Aquaculture Inc.Box 665, Nespelem WA, 99155

May 26, 2011

Dear Senators and Representatives:

Your leadership is needed immediately to put and end to an environmental andeconomic catastrophe occurring right now on the Columbia River.

The decision by the Bureau of Reclamation to increase river flows at Grand

Coulee Dam and over-saturate the river with toxic gasses is killing 100,000 fish a

day at Pacific Aquacultures sustainable steelhead farm 20 miles south of the

dam. If this practice isnt stopped immediately, it will result in more than $30million in economic damage to our company alone. There are currently 2.7million fish still living on the fish farm that are being threatened by this

environmental and economic catastrophe.

But this is about more than the economic survival of one business; its about theenvironmental survival of a 51-mile stretch of the Columbia River.

These high gas levels are being generated knowingly and are a gross violation ofwater quality standards. This will have disastrous results on wild fish in the river,

including multiple endangered or threatened species. This stretch of river is

known as the home of world-class sport fishing. The last three state records forRainbow Trout were caught here. If the total dissolved gas (TDG) levels are not

brought down immediately to a level of 125%, the outcome will be the complete

sterilization of this stretch of the Columbia River. If this was a private entity

discharging into the Columbia River system, they could be faced with jail time.

In addition, the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, which are

already facing an extremely high unemployment rate, depend on healthy fishpopulations in the Columbia River for their business operations and livelihoods.

The majority of our employees are affiliated with the Colville Tribe. This area is

home to the endangered bull trout and the Colville Tribes red band trout both

will be driven to extinction unless TDG levels are brought down.

In recent days, weve been in contact with the Bureau of Reclamation, Army Corpof Engineers and the Bonneville Power Administrationthey each have ignoredour requests for help or suggestions for a solution that addresses flood control and

healthy fish populations below the dam.

8/6/2019 Pacific Seafood Letter to Elected Officials (2)

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Pacific Aquaculture Inc.Box 665, Nespelem WA, 99155

The Washington State Senate just unanimously passed a resolution urging federal

dam operators to take action to avoid this environmental and economiccatastrophe. Now we need decisive leadership from our federal and state elected

officials.

We understand the record spring run-off is placing challenges on dam operators

and policy makers. But we also understand that measures to promote a

compromise can be taken to limit the environmental and economic damage

currently being inflicted on this gorgeous stretch of Columbia River. Theseinclude changes to turbine operations and marginally increasing water levels in

Lake Roosevelt and Banks Lake. We stand ready to work with you and federalagencies to do whatever we can to address this grave problem.

Thank you in advance for your immediate attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

Craig UrnessGeneral Counsel

Pacific Seafood Group(503) 784-2253

Cc: Governor Christine Gregoire

Cc: Governor John Kitzhaber

Cc: U.S. Senator Patty MurrayCc: U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell

Cc: U.S. Senator Ron Wyden

Cc: U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley

Cc: U.S. Representative Cathy McMorris RodgersCc: U.S. Representative Doc Hastings

Cc: U.S. Representative Greg Walden

Cc: Washington State Senator Dan Swecker

Cc: John Bielka, Aquaculture Manager, Pacific Aquaculture Inc.