Past Event
Legislative Council on River Governance
Richland, Washington
The LCRG brings together state legislators from the four Columbia River basin states to address shared concerns and provides a unique space for interstate dialogue. LCRG Chair along with our staff, are excited to convene this special forum in person and invite you to join us.
Under the leadership of Washington Senator Claudia Kauffman lawmakers from the four Columbia and Snake River Basins will convene September 9-12, 2024, in Richland, Washington to discuss key issues impacting this critical river system. Topics will include:
- Reviewing the Six Sovereigns Agreement intended to restore and conserve salmon, preserve critical fish runs, expand clean energy, and increase resiliency and provide stability for communities throughout the Columbia River Basin.
- Discussing the impacts of the Columbia Basin Project including the implementation of the Odessa Groundwater Replacement Project, which aims to replace over 80,000 groundwater-irrigated acres with Columbia River water. Participants will learn about the challenges and opportunities of this project and how the work is planned to move forward.
- Providing feedback on the modernization of the Columbia River Treaty that after multiple negotiations was designed to mitigate flood risks, ensure reliable and economical power supplies, and improve ecosystems.
Questions? Please contact Jackie Tinetti jtinetti@csg.org
Presentations
Tuesday, September 10th
- Columbia River Basin Project & The Odessa Groundwater Replacement Project
- Derek Sandison, Director, Washington State Department of Agriculture
- Saving our Salmon: Salmon Preservation and Conservation
- Chairman Shannon Wheeler, Nez Perce
- Chairman Gerald Lewis, Confederated Bands and Tribes of the Yakama Nation (invited)
- Jeremy Takala, member on the Yakama Nation Tribal Council and Chair of the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission
- Joëlle Klein, Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation
- NOAAA Fisheries Activities and Updates
- Michael Tehan Assistant Regional Administrator, West Coast Region
Wednesday, September 11th
- Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention and Mitigation: A Four-State Update
- Keith DeHart, Invasive Species and Wildlife Integrity Supervisor, Oregon Department of Fish and Game
- Justin Bush, Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife
- Nicholas Zurfluh, Bureau Chief, Idaho Invasive Species and Noxious Weeds
- Thomas Woolf, Aquatic Invasive Species Bureau Chief, Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks