Free The Snake Flotilla: Broad coalition to rally on the lower Snake River in support of removing 4 deadbeat dams
Spokane, Wash. – On Saturday, Oct. 3, salmon advocates, tribal members, anglers, kayakers, outfitters, orca lovers and business owners will join forces to rally on the Snake River with a singular message: Free the Snake.
The rally brings together a broad coalition of interests in support of removing the four dams on the lower Snake River of Southeastern Washington and restoring endangered salmon, steelhead and orcas currently being harmed by the dams.
This summer, endangered Snake River salmon and steelhead died by the thousands due to hot water in the reservoirs behind these four dams, which have outlived their value as their costs have increased dramatically. Less than 40 of Idaho’s iconic sockeye salmon survived to reach Redfish Lake. The four high-cost, low-value dams on the lower Snake River stand between salmon and their home rivers – and it’s time they came down. These aging dams cost taxpayers millions of dollars to maintain, while their benefits to the Northwest are in steep decline.
The Oct. 3 rally comes as part of a sustained campaign to Free the Snake led by conservation and fishing groups, orca advocates, recreation businesses, and supported by Patagonia and other national organizations. In January, a petition containing more than 70,000 signatures asking the Obama administration to remove the four lower Snake River dams was delivered to the President.
A map and more information are available here and details can be found below.
Where: Wawawai Landing – on the lower Snake River near Pullman, Wash.
When: Oct. 3 at 8 a.m.
- 8 a.m Coffee, snacks
- 9:30 a.m. Press conference with representatives from the tribal, fishing, conservation, business and agricultural communities
- 10 a.m. Rally on the River
- 7 p.m. Post-flotilla celebration with speakers and music at the Belltower in Pullman (125 SE Spring Street)
For further details, visit www.freethesnake.com.

