Stop the proposed Goldendale Pumped Storage development. The sacred land, medicines, and traditions of Pushpum are in danger of destruction. Sign our petition and tell regulators it’s not clean energy if it destroys Tribal cultural resources.
Pushpum has Nurtured Life in this Region since Time Immemorial.
Known to the Yakama Nation as “mother of all roots,” Pushpum is a sacred site for Yakama Nation ceremonies, legends, and gathering of traditional roots and medicines. As a natural seed bank, this site contains rich biodiversity in plant and animal life that once removed can never be fully restored.
The project area is within ceded lands of Yakama Nation, and the area has historically been used by the Yakama Nation, Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs Reservation, and the Nez Perce Tribe for hunting, traditional gathering, fishing, camping, and traditional ceremonies.
The Threat
Rye Development proposes to permanently destroy Pushpum by building the Goldendale Pumped Storage development, the largest such development proposal in the Pacific Northwest. Developers cite the need for “clean energy” to justify the destruction of these irreplaceable Tribal resources. A recent High Country News article explained: “The Yakama Nation has been outspoken in its support for renewable energy development, including solar and small-scale hydro projects. But not at Pushpum; it’s sacred to the Kah-milt-pah people, one of the bands within the Yakama Nation, who still regularly use the site.”
State and Federal Environmental and Cultural Resource Reviews
The Washington Department of Ecology’s Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) confirmed —the proposed development would have “unique significant and unavoidable adverse impacts on Tribal communities and members.” The EIS also found that the developers’ proposed mitigation efforts effectively do nothing to reduce the level of impact.
The Environmental Review conducted by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)—released without adequate tribal-government consultation—also concluded that the development would have unavoidable adverse effects on cultural resources.
This Development Doesn’t Add Up
The ill-conceived location racks up development costs; slows down our green energy transition; and is not necessary to meet the region’s decarbonization goals. The environmental and cultural value of Pushpum is incalculable. Destroying these lands would be an irrecoverable blow to the biodiversity that benefits everyone.
