Washington, D.C. – Actors Adam West and Mariel Hemingway joined today with over 800 organizations and prominent individuals in endorsing retirement of four federal dams on the Lower Snake River.

Both actors offered their reasons why they offered their support.

“Celilo Falls.  When I was a boy my grandfather took me there to fish with the Indians.  The dams covered the falls and soon the salmon may be only a memory as well.  We must not let this happen,” said West in a statement.

West played Batman on the classic television series.  Hemingway has appeared in numerous feature films.

“The wild salmon are an important natural resource that is critical at this time to preserve.  Let’s save the salmon before it’s too late,” said Hemingway in a statement.

“West’s and Hemingway’s endorsements are representative of a growing national interest in retiring these dams to save taxpayers billions and save the salmon,” said Kathleen McNeilly, Director of the Snake River Campaign at Taxpayers for Common Sense.

Currently, all Snake River salmon runs are either extinct or on the endangered species list.  Scientists largely blame the Lower Snake River dams, which cause more than 80% of all human-related salmon mortality.  Proposals calling for retirement of the dams would allow Snake River salmon to swim freely around the dams.

The list of endorsers for removing the four dams includes businesses, prominent individuals, scientists, Native American tribes, and organizations representing conservationists, commercial and recreational fishermen, taxpayers, faith-based groups, and other interests.  Organizations from 49 states, U.S. Virgin Islands, Australia and Japan have endorsed retiring the four Lower Snake River dams.

TCS has led efforts to compile the list along with Save Our Wild Salmon, American Rivers, Trout Unlimited, National Wildlife Federation, Idaho Rivers United and Idaho Wildlife Federation.

The list of endorsers is available at www.taxpayer.net/snake. For more information, please contact us.