Pacific Aquaculture Inc.

Box 665, Nespelem WA, 99155

May 26, 2011

Dear Senators and Representatives:

Your leadership is needed immediately to put and end to an environmental and

economic catastrophe occurring right now on the Columbia River.

The decision by the Bureau of Reclamation to increase river flows at Grand

Coulee Dam and over-saturate the river with toxic gasses is killing 100,000 fish a
day at Pacific Aquaculture’s sustainable steelhead farm 20 miles south of the
dam. If this practice isn’t stopped immediately, it will result in more than $30
million in economic damage to our company alone. There are currently 2.7
million fish still living on the fish farm that are being threatened by this
environmental and economic catastrophe.

But this is about more than the economic survival of one business; it’s about the
environmental survival of a 51-mile stretch of the Columbia River.

These high gas levels are being generated knowingly and are a gross violation of
water quality standards. This will have disastrous results on wild fish in the river,
including multiple endangered or threatened species. This stretch of river is
known as the home of world-class sport fishing. The last three state records for
Rainbow Trout were caught here. If the total dissolved gas (TDG) levels are not
brought down immediately to a level of 125%, the outcome will be the complete
sterilization of this stretch of the Columbia River. If this was a private entity
discharging into the Columbia River system, they could be faced with jail time.

In addition, the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, which are

already facing an extremely high unemployment rate, depend on healthy fish
populations in the Columbia River for their business operations and livelihoods.
The majority of our employees are affiliated with the Colville Tribe. This area is
home to the endangered bull trout and the Colville Tribe’s red band trout – both
will be driven to extinction unless TDG levels are brought down.

In recent days, we’ve been in contact with the Bureau of Reclamation, Army Corp
of Engineers and the Bonneville Power Administration – they each have ignored
our requests for help or suggestions for a solution that addresses flood control and
healthy fish populations below the dam.
 Pacific Aquaculture Inc.
Box 665, Nespelem WA, 99155

The Washington State Senate just unanimously passed a resolution urging federal
dam operators to take action to avoid this environmental and economic
catastrophe. Now we need decisive leadership from our federal and state elected
officials.

We understand the record spring run-off is placing challenges on dam operators

and policy makers. But we also understand that measures to promote a
compromise can be taken to limit the environmental and economic damage
currently being inflicted on this gorgeous stretch of Columbia River. These
include changes to turbine operations and marginally increasing water levels in
Lake Roosevelt and Banks Lake. We stand ready to work with you and federal
agencies to do whatever we can to address this grave problem.

Thank you in advance for your immediate attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

Craig Urness
General Counsel
Pacific Seafood Group
(503) 784-2253

Cc: Governor Christine Gregoire

Cc: Governor John Kitzhaber
Cc: U.S. Senator Patty Murray
Cc: U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell
Cc: U.S. Senator Ron Wyden
Cc: U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley
Cc: U.S. Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers
Cc: U.S. Representative Doc Hastings
Cc: U.S. Representative Greg Walden
Cc: Washington State Senator Dan Swecker
Cc: John Bielka, Aquaculture Manager, Pacific Aquaculture Inc.