SNAKE RIVER/ICE HARBOR DAM TOUR AND THE WASHINGTON LEGISLATIVE FARM TOUR.

Snake River / Ice Harbor Dam TourPhotos by Trista Crossley
September 20, 2022
The future health of the Snake and Columbia River System is important for communities in the Pacific Northwest. As with any important issue the legislature deals with, developing a thorough understanding of our shared natural resource will help guide better policy discussions. An opportunity had been put together for Legislators to tour Ice Harbor Dam on the Snake River. Over 40 participants toured the Ice Harbor facility. Key discussions included: The Growing Importance of the Lower Snake River Dams in a Carbon-free Future; Western Power Grid, Hydropower & Clean Energy Policies; Snake River Salmon Population Trends and Future Run Forecasting; Lower Snake River Dams: Benefits to the Nation; the Importance of Farming, River, & Rail.

 Photos by Trista Crossley

WA Legislative Farm Tour, Skagit ValleyPhoto by Trista Crossley
October 3-5, 2022
There where over 60 participants in this year’s Food & Farm Tour held in La Conner, WA. The program kicked off with a welcome and introduction to agriculture by WSDA Agriculture Director Derek Sandison. The one-and-a-half-day program covered shellfish, potato, vegetable, berry, beef & dairy family farms. Conversations were held with generational, small and minority farming. Ag research, fish recovery, habitation, and current farm practices with conservation of ag lands and riparian buffers where discussed. Keynote presenters Roylene Comes at Night, State Conservationist, USDA, NRCS and Deputy Director, Heather Bartlett, Washington State Department of Ecology gave great presentations on partnerships in conservation and ag water quality.

Photos by Trista Crossley