Oregon Public Broadcasting

Conservationists and fishermen hit Washington, D.C. Tuesday with a 2-ton, 25-foot fiberglass salmon and a message.

The group has filed a complaint in a Portland federal court against the Bush Administration’s latest salmon recovery plan.

The plan calls for continued operation of four hydropower-producing dams on the lower Snake River.

Environmental attorney Todd True with Earthjustice says it’s not necessary to choose between having healthy salmon and dealing with global warming.

Todd True: "It means we have to be smart. It means we have to take advantage of the other resources in the Northwest – the wind, geothermal, and we especially have to take advantage of the conservation opportunities. The cheapest kilowatt is the one that’s not used."

The group is calling on Congress to authorize removal of the dams. They face a tough slog upstream against lawmakers including Oregon Republican Sen. Gordon Smith, who strongly opposes dam removal.

The Bush Administration's latest salmon plan is under court review, after a federal judge threw out the previous version.