People Willing To Share Cost Of Salmon Recovery Survey Finds Many Ready To Use Less, Pay More In Utilities

Wed., March 29, 1995

Associated Press

Washington residents believe the region’s salmon runs are in jeopardy and are willing to pay to help save them, according to a statewide survey commissioned by Columbia River dam operators.

About 84 percent of those surveyed agree the salmon resource will survive “only if we take special steps to protect it,” according to the poll conducted late last year by Boston-based Martilla and Kiley.

A total of 61 percent rated the question of salmon survival as “critical” or “very serious.”

Three-quarters of those polled said they would be willing to reduce their use of electricity or water by 10 percent to help. And 62 percent said they’d be willing to pay an extra $5 a month for electricity, though nearly two-thirds said they would draw the line at an extra $10 a month.

The survey, based on 800 interviews across the state, has a margin of error of 3.5 percentage points.

The survey found most residents hold overfishing and the dams primarily to blame for the salmon’s decline, and concluded: “Although they believe hydropower should bear a significant part of the burden, they do not see it as the only contributor.”

“What it tells us, as hydroelectric utilities, is that for us to continue to generate electricity, we must protect the salmon,” said manager Don Godard of the Grant County Public Utility District.

The poll has leaked out as Republicans in Congress gear up to scale back the Endangered Species Act. A hearing on the law, scheduled April 24 in Vancouver, is expected to focus on salmon. Rep. Linda Smith, R-Wash., who represents the area, contends salmon-protection costs will leave some people unable to pay their heating bills.

Sen. Slade Gorton, R-Wash., is pushing for a six-month moratorium on the act and suggests the price may be too high to save some subspecies of Columbia River salmon.

The pollsters also asked respondents to rate their levels of trust for various groups involved in the salmon crisis.

High levels of trust were logged for university scientists and fish and wildlife agencies. Environmental groups, Gov. Mike Lowry and commercial fishing interests also had credibility.

Trailing in the trust rankings were leaders of the region’s aluminum industry and local utilities, whose operations are based on low-cost hydropower.<

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