Tribal Nations, Wildlife Experts Highlight Costs of Initiative 2117 to Fish Habitat and Salmon Recovery at Restoration Project That Would Lose Funding If I-2117 Passes
If Passed, I-2117 Would Cut At Least $216M in Funding for Fish Habitat Restoration and Salmon Recovery Projects Across State
Everett, WA, September 26, 2024 – Tribal Nations and community leaders gathered at the Spencer Island Estuary in Snohomish County today to highlight how Initiative 2117 would harm fish habitat and salmon recovery in Washington.
If passed, I-2117 would gut at least $216 million in funding for fish habitat restoration and salmon recovery programs across Washington state, with many projects impacting Tribal Nations.
The project at Spencer Island is one of dozens of fish barrier and salmon habitat restoration investments around the state that would lose funding if I-2117 passes.
“Salmon have been central to our culture and way of life since time immemorial,” said Chair Teri Gobin, Tulalip Tribes. “Initiative 2117 threatens salmon recovery and restoration projects and will increase pollution and habitat destruction. I-2117 would have devastating consequences for our salmon, Tribal communities, and our environment.”
“Investing in fish habitat salmon recovery is essential for cleaner water and protecting the overall health of Washington’s ecosystem,” said Tom Uniack, Executive Director, Washington Wild. “I-2117 threatens our salmon population, which not only impacts our environment but harms the culture and economies of communities who rely on healthy, thriving fish habitats. Protecting and restoring land and water is at the heart of Washington Wild’s mission, so we call on communities across our state to vote no on Initiative 2117 this fall.”
“As of last year, Puyallup Chinook salmon populations were just 2,820, far below the recovery goal of 18,000,” said Melissa Malott, Executive Director, Communities for a Healthy Bay. “I-2117 would cut crucial funding for the Estuary and Salmon Restoration Program, which is essential to restoring the Puyallup River Watershed and ecosystems in Commencement Bay and Puget Sound. Defeating Initiative 2117 is key to safeguarding our environment, public health, and local economies.”
“I-2117 would gut both current and future investments in fish habitat and salmon recovery. Serving on the Puget Sound Salmon Recovery Council, I see great salmon recovery projects go unfunded each year because we lack adequate resources. This means we aren’t doing enough work fast enough to recover these iconic species and support tribal and non-tribal fisheries,” said Jacques White, CEO, Long Live the Kings. “Communities all over the state have been struggling to find the support needed to turn the tide of habitat loss. Salmon and the people who depend on them can’t afford I-2117.”
If passed, I-2117 would jeopardize millions in funding for programs that protect and restore endangered fish habitats, maintain clean and cool water conditions for salmon, and remove barriers that impede fish migration, including:
- Cuts to funding for programs that protect and restore endangered fish habitats, jeopardizing the state’s natural ecosystems and salmon recovery efforts, including over $216 million for the Brian Abbott Fish Barrier Removal Board, which removes barriers impeding the migration of salmon and steelhead.
- Slashing funding for programs that support clean and cool water conditions, including the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program, which provides financial incentives to farmers who plant native vegetation along salmon streams.
- Threatening funding for the Family Forest Fish Passage Program, which removes obstacles like dams and culverts that prevent fish from moving freely through their habitats.
To learn more about projects that would be cut by I-2117, visit the Clean & Prosperous Institute’s Risk of Repeal map, which provides robust data on the impacts of the initiative, including fish habitat, water quality, and salmon recovery.
More than 500 organizations and Tribal Nations have endorsed the No on 2117 campaign, including firefighters, small businesses, doctors and public health leaders, labor unions, and environmental groups. You can view the full list of organizations opposing I-2117 here.