Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO) is requesting public input on a survey to determine recreational interests and opportunities in and along the Lower Snake River, should it return to a free-flowing state. The survey, which takes only 10 to 15 minutes to complete, is intended to capture insights on current and potential future recreation activities, preferences, and accessibility needs.   

English Survey 

Spanish Survey 

Context:  The benefits of a restored lower Snake River will be enormous–including opportunities for people to experience a thriving ecosystem and healthy water, Tribal cultural sites restoration, protection, and education, and significantly expanded recreation/outdoor activities such as fishing, boating, rafting, kayaking, birding, hunting, and much more. 

Today however, the lower Snake River currently supports very limited activities due to its hot, stagnant reservoirs, toxic algal blooms, severely imperiled native fish, and a struggling surrounding ecosystem.  

Why Your Voice Matters: The lower Snake River recreation survey provides an opportunity to share your vision and priorities for accessing and experiencing a healthy restored river, and what it means to you, your family, your community, and/or your business.     

In addition to numerous questions regarding current access and use, the survey provides space in the final question (before Recreational User Profile section) for additional narrative and comments regarding FUTURE RECREATION and other activities and opportunities you’d like to see enhanced with a restored river. 

1. Final Question under Future Recreation Uses Section-- Do you have any additional suggestions or comments about future recreational uses in and along the Lower Snake River? If so, please describe them below. 

Potential messages and information to include based on your vision and priorities: 

General:  

1. Share your experience and connection to this landscape, and perhaps the shared values of appreciating and utilizing public lands, self-reliance, and ensuring a healthy landscape legacy for generations to come. 

2. Describe your interest in learning more about the history, cultural significance, and importance of the river to Tribes and your community through interpretive information in the restored river corridor.  

3. Describe how you and your family or community would like to experience a restored lower Snake River and the beauty of a healthy ecosystem? 

Kayaking/Rafting: 

A free-flowing lower Snake River will provide at least 66 named whitewater rapids and increased opportunities to explore the river basin using different watercrafts. 

1. Are you a paddler, outdoor enthusiast or river guide who would enjoy rafting or kayaking a free-flowing river and experience the historical rapids underneath the existing reservoirs?  

2. How would additional rafting/kayaking opportunities impact you, your family, business, and community?  

Business/economic benefits and impacts:  

1. Are you a business owner or employee who relies on commercial or recreation activities enhanced by a healthy free flowing river?   

2. Outfitters in Idaho and Washington could expand their businesses and develop hunting, fishing, and boating operations on this reopened stretch of river. This would create a large boost to local rural economies.  

3. The cruise ship industry is small and far outweighed by the value of both a restored salmon/steelhead fishery, and the new recreational benefits.  

4. Accessibility concerns: One concern about dam breach raised in the 2022 Inslee-Murray Report is that a free-flowing Snake River could be more rugged and less accessible to people with mobility issues. Outfitting provides accessibility to the public regardless of age or ability and would allow those with mobility limitations to access the river corridor.  

 Historic and Cultural Resources:  

The lower Snake River basin includes two national park units and several state parks dedicated to the history and cultures in the landscape, including area Tribes, agriculture, and the Lewis & Clark Corps of Discovery expedition. 

1. What kind of cultural and historic interpretation and education would you like to see in the landscape? Public art?  

Thanks for taking the time to complete this important survey!