Washington, D.C. — A new report from the Center for American Progress shows how a groundbreaking agreement between four Native American Tribes, two states, and the U.S. government unlocks investments that can help revitalize the Snake River Basin.
The report provides context for last year’s groundbreaking Resilient Columbia Basin Agreement (RCBA), in which the federal government committed to provide $1 billion to fund salmon recovery, clean energy, and infrastructure in the region.
These investments are needed to meet rising energy demand from data centers and to address rural economic development needs. The rural counties in Washington State where dams are located have higher poverty rates and lower wages when compared to the rest of the state.
The RCBA presents a new vision for the Columbia and Snake River basins that would reinvest in workers, communities, and Tribes to meet energy demands, restore struggling salmon runs, and give rural and Tribal governments more say in how projects are designed and who benefits. Successfully achieving these goals in the Columbia and Snake River Basins would demonstrate to the nation the value of investing in people and places.
The report recommends strategies to implement the agreement over the next five to 10 years. The second Trump administration, Congress, and states can ensure that regional energy and economic needs assessments are completed and that obligated resources are deployed. Taking these steps is essential to ensure that these crucial projects and commitments are completed in a timely and cost-effective way and that promised jobs, treaty obligations, and community benefits are delivered.
Read the report: “Revitalizing the Snake River Basin: How Helping One River’s Distressed Fish, People, and Power Helps Build the Nation” by Mark Haggerty, Scott Bischke, and Alia Hidayat
For more information or to speak with an expert, please contact Sam Hananel at [email protected].