Environment groups sue to spill water

PORTLAND - Twelve environmental groups are suing to have more water spilled over dams along the Snake and Columbia rivers for endangered salmon and steelhead.

They filed for an injunction in the U.S. District Court in Portland on July 16.

Earthjustice, representing 11 other groups including American Rivers, Idaho Rivers United, National Wildlife Federation ,and the Sierra Club, are responding to the recent heat wave in the Pacific Northwest by demanding more water be spilled next spring.

"Increasing spill helps flush juvenile fish along their perilous river migration to reach the ocean where they mature," stated a spokesperson. "The groups together acknowledge this court-action is an emergency stop-gap measure and not enough alone to prevent the trend of these fish toward extinction."

The groups are supported in federal court by the State of Oregon and the Nez Perce Tribe.

"Columbia River salmon are facing an existential crisis due to this year's record-shattering heatwave and the perennial challenges they face," said Sarah Bates, acting director for the National Wildlife Federation's.