Salmon and Steelhead Counted at Bonneville DamThrough Sept. 22, 2014

One hundred percent reliable. Zero percent carbon emissions.

Northwest RiverPartners101 SW Main St., Suite 1605, Portland, OR 97204 | 503.274.7792 | www.nwriverpartners.org

2014 AccomplishmentsWelcome Home Salmon

Northwest RiverPartners2014 Board of Directors

Jack SpeerChair Alcoa

Joe LukasVice Chair Western MT Electric G&T Co-op

John GerstenbergerTreasurerHood River Co-op Chuck BerrieGrant County PUD

Ted CoatesTacoma Power Larry La BolleAvista John PrescottPNGC Power

John SavenNW Requirements Utilities Paul WhyattWeyerhaeuser

500,000

1,000,000

1,500,000

2,000,000

2,500,000

Coho

‘81 ‘82 ‘83 ‘84 ‘85 ‘86 ‘87 ‘88 ‘89 ‘90 ‘91 ‘92 ‘93 ‘94 ‘95 ‘96 ‘97 ‘98 ‘99 ‘00 ‘01 ‘02 ‘03 ‘04 ‘05 ‘06 ‘07 ‘08 ‘09 ‘10 ‘11 ‘12 ‘13 ‘14

SockeyeSteelheadChinook

2014 Accomplishments

CleanHydro: Our Story, Our WayNorthwest RiverPartners’ CleanHydro campaign hit the airwaves for a second year, thanks to the support of our members and trade associations. More than 7 million people in the Northwest saw the ads, and subsequent opinion polling showed an increase in public awareness and appreciation of the value of this tremendous resource. The campaign also garnered national attention, with RiverPartners receiving an “Outstanding Steward of American Rivers” award from the National Hydropower Association. As one ad states: Way to Go H2O!

Celebrating Record Returns RiverPartners was a prime sponsor of a “Welcome Home Salmon” event held at Bonneville Dam that celebrated the record return of 2.3 million adult salmon to the Columbia River Basin—the highest number since fish counting began at the dam more than 75 years ago. The collaborative affair with BPA, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, NOAA Fisheries, the Columbia River Inter-tribal Fish Commission, and the NPCC was a smashing success and a wonderful way to broadly spread the great salmon news. Multiple TV stations ran news stories featuring NWRP’s underwater video footage; radio, newspapers and online sites also devoted time and space to the event or used our video in their coverage.

Legal Wrangling ProceedsDespite another record-breaking year of salmon returns, lawsuits challenging the federal hydro system Biological Opinion (BiOp) again were filed by the perennial plaintiffs—national and local anti-dam and commercial fishing groups, joined by one Northwest state and one tribe. The suite of actions in the BiOp is indisputably the largest and most expensive species restoration program anywhere in the nation, yet these litigants have stated they will not be satisfied unless the Snake River dams are removed. RiverPartners’ response is: See you in court!

RiverPartners also intervened in the California Delta Smelt Biological Opinion endangered species case. This led to us filing a petition with the Supreme Court after a Ninth Circuit panel refused to rehear key issues in the case that could affect future BiOps, including ours. Here’s hoping this one makes the Supremes’ short list. RiverPartners also weighed in when the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and NOAA Fisheries proposed to radically expand their definition of critical habitat for endangered species to include areas not actually occupied by listed species. We labeled the proposal what it is:

“magical thinking.”

Tackling the Council’s Fish and Wildlife ProgramRiverPartners along with its members showed up in force to challenge the Northwest Power and Conservation Council (NPCC) to make their draft regional fish and wildlife program more effective, not more expensive. The Council did not follow all of our recommendations, but there is no doubt they heard us. RiverPartners repeatedly sent that same message to the Bonneville Power Administration, which is charged with implementing the Council’s program. Our expectations are high that BPA will heed our call to contain costs and focus on effective investments.

“Spill-Mongers” Continue to MisinformWhen Oregon and the Nez Perce tribe proposed a “spill experiment” for operating the federal hydro system that would violate state and federal water quality laws protecting salmon and cost another $110 million a year, RiverPartners jumped into the fray, testifying against the plan before the NPCC and the Oregon Legislature. The

“experiment,” thoroughly panned by an independent panel of scientists, soon resurfaced in an Oregon state water quality process. It will continue to be pushed by groups that readily admit their ultimate goal is dam removal and see expensive spill as the best means to drive down the cost-effectiveness of the Northwest’s clean hydropower.

Informing the Media and the HillOpinion pieces printed by the Idaho Statesman, Seattle Times and The Oregonian, as well as a feature about the CleanHydro campaign on KATU-TV’s “AM Northwest” morning show, ensured that the RiverPartners message made it to the masses. Northwest congressional offices were pleased to see the CleanHydro TV ads and learn how RiverPartners’ members are protecting this resource, just as we ask Congress to protect it. They appreciate that we regularly keep them informed about the BiOp, our unprecedented collaboration with agencies and tribes, and the true costs and benefits of salmon restoration measures.

Members MatterRiverPartners keeps its membership educated and engaged through our Directors’ Report, email updates, website and “Fast Facts” publication. Our Current Reflections e-newsletter is distributed to more than 800 individuals and organizations, including reporters, regional policy and decision makers, congressional offices—and of course, our members! Our CleanHydro campaign reaches even farther, entering more than 3 million households with our messages about the legacy and value of the Northwest’s rivers and hydro system.

RiverPartners Annual Achievements

RiverPartners experienced an amazing year in 2014. We won national awards and local recognition as we spread the word about the tremendous value of the Northwest’s hydropower and river system, this year’s record-breaking salmon returns and the importance of keeping fish and wildlife costs focused and effective. RiverPartners’ broad reach and influence with key audiences—whether the public, Congressional or state legislative offices, federal agencies or tribes—is possible only through our strong and diverse membership.

RiverPartners simply couldn’t do what it does without members like you. When the call came to testify before the Northwest Power and Conservation Council about its draft fish and wildlife program, you answered. When the time came to fund another year of the CleanHydro public education campaign, you stepped up. When the salmon came back in unprecedented numbers, you cheered them on.

By supporting the best science, promoting clean renewable hydropower, and vigorously countering the cries for costly and ineffective spill at the dams and dam removal, you keep RiverPartners vital and bring our mission to life. No other organization exists solely to advocate on behalf of the Northwest’s clean renewable hydropower, smart salmon restoration policies and a healthy, thriving economy. You can be proud that your investment in Northwest RiverPartners is paying big dividends. Thanks for your ongoing support as we enter a challenging year in 2015, sure to be filled with courtroom drama, an expanded CleanHydro effort and, we hope, another record year of salmon returns!

Sincerely,

Terry Flores Jack Speer Executive Director Chairman

Terry Flores, Executive Director

Jack Speer, Chairman

Alcoa Inc.Asotin County PUDAssociated Oregon IndustriesAssociation of Washington BusinessAvista CorporationBenton PUDBenton Rural Electric AssociationBig Bend Electric CooperativeBonners Ferry, City ofBurley, City of Cascade LocksCentral Electric Cooperative, Inc.Central Lincoln PUDChelan County PUDCity of RichlandClallam County PUDClark Public UtilitiesClatskanie Peoples Utility DistrictClearwater Power CompanyColumbia Basin Development LeagueColumbia Basin Electric CooperativeColumbia Gorge Community College Columbia Power Cooperative Assoc.Columbia River PUDColumbia Rural Electric Assoc.Consumers Power, Inc.Coos-Curry Electric CooperativeCowlitz County PUD

Mason County PUD No. 1Mason County PUD No. 3McMinnville Water and LightMidstate Electric CooperativeMissoula Electric CooperativeModern Electric Water CompanyMonmouth, City ofNorthern Lights, Inc.Northern Wasco County PUDNorthwest Food Processors

AssociationNorthwest Requirements UtilitiesOkanogan County Electric Cooperative Okanogan County PUD No. 1Orcas Power & Light CooperativeOregon Forest Industries CouncilOregon Trail Electric CooperativeOregon Wheat Growers LeaguePasco Chamber of CommercePacific County PUD No. 2Pacific NW Utilities Conference

CommitteePacific Northwest Waterways Assoc.Parkland Light and Water CompanyPend Oreille County PUD No. 1PNGC PowerPort of LewistonPort of Pasco

Port of The DallesPuget Sound EnergyRaft River Rural Electric CooperativeRavalli County ElectricRupert, City ofSalem ElectricSkamania County PUD #1Snohomish County PUD No. 1Springfield Utility BoardSurprise Valley Electrification Corp.Tacoma PowerThe Boeing CompanyTillamook PUDUmatilla Electric CooperativeUnited Electric CooperativeVera Water and PowerVigilante Electric Cooperative, Inc.Walkley Farms, LLCWasco Electric CooperativeWashington State Farm BureauWashington State Hay Growers

AssociationWashington State Potato

CommissionWells Rural Electric CompanyWest Oregon Electric CooperativeWeyerhaeuserWhatcom County PUD No. 1

Douglas Electric CooperativeEugene Water and Electric BoardEnergy NorthwestFall River REC, Inc.Flathead Electric CooperativeForest Grove Light and PowerFranklin County PUDGlacier Electric Cooperative, Inc.Grant County PUDGrays Harbor County PUD #1Harney Electric CooperativeHermiston Energy ServicesHood River Electric CooperativeIdaho Consumer-Owned Utility Assoc. Idaho County Light & PowerIdaho Falls PowerIndustrial Customers of NW UtilitiesInland Power & Light CompanyKittitas County PUDKootenai Electric CooperativeLane Electric CooperativeLewis Clark Valley Chamber of

CommerceLewis County PUDLincoln Electric CooperativeLongview Fibre Lost River Electric Co-op, Inc.Lower Valley Energy

2014 Northwest RiverPartners Members

Northwest RiverPartners is an alliance of farmers, utilities, ports and businesses that promote the economic and environmental benefits of the Columbia and Snake Rivers and salmon recovery policies based on sound science.