Mitch Cutter

Salmon and Energy Strategist, Idaho Conservation League

Clayton, ID

September 14, 2024

As we pulled up, Mitch Cutter waved to us from the front steps of White Clouds Preserve, in Clayton, Idaho. Joining us for dinner, he quickly fell back into the SITW routine, a program he knew well from his time as a student in 2014 and later as a tech manager. Today, Mitch works as a Salmon and Energy Strategist at the Idaho Conservation League, where he continues to pursue his passion for the environment. During our time together, he took us to several local spots, painting a picture of Idaho’s complex relationship with dams. At the Sunbeam Dam on the Salmon River, he shared how an unnecessary dam was removed, allowing resilient salmon to return in just two generations. Next, we stopped at the historic Yankee Fork Gold Dredge, where he explained how mining had disrupted the river's functions, but conservation efforts were hindered because it was a designated historic site.

Mitch primarily focuses on protecting salmon through policy, stressing the importance of removing dams. He argued that the benefits of removal far outweigh the drawbacks, delivering a pitch he had clearly shared with many legislators before. In fact, he was flying out to D.C. the following morning. Mitch described policy advocacy as one of the most inspiring parts of his job. Specifically, he shared about a time when the Idaho Conservation League enabled youth to travel to DC to tell their stories to legislators. He described how, as they attended meetings, the young people from local reservations voice’s became strong with passion as they spoke about the importance of salmon to their culture.

Mitch is determined to continue making change until the lower Snake River dams are removed and salmon populations can recover. He has come full circle ten years after his SITW program, now inspiring the current Westies to advocate for salmon protection.

by Cambria Bartlett