It was such an honor to join a group of paddlers and community members in an effort to educate and advocate for this landscape. Our flight began by soaring above the hills of the Palouse- a place where modern agriculture has replaced native grasses, trees, and wildlife. As we approached the large canyon of the Snake River, we could see firsthand the extensive black rocks of the Columbia River basalts. Our first view of the river let us see Boyer Park and the Lower Granite Dam. We discussed some of the impacts that these dams have had on communities and wildlife- essentially making it impossible for some of the most important first foods for Tribes, like salmon, to have a viable life cycle. Further down, we got a view of Palouse Falls, a sacred place with great cultural significance. As we turned around at the Lower Monumental Dam, we headed back to the east towards Tucannon and observed renewable energy farms in the form of wind turbines.
