the film forum library tutorial contact

Four Dams Not Worth the Trouble by Jim Wilcox The News Tribune, July 25, 2009

Re: "For wild fish, the numbers aren't good" (letter, 7-15).

Due to the divide between the economy and the ecology either with or without the four lower Snake River Dams in Southeast Washington, Save Our Wild Salmon - in conjunction with Trout Unlimited and other conservation organizations - is taking an unbiased approach to present the true costs and benefits associated with the proposal to breach these dams.

Working Snake River Project presentations are being conducted in local communities to inform consumers and policy makers alike regarding the costs and benefits of restoring the lower Snake River to its natural, free-flowing condition.

As an avid fisheries conservationist and Washington native, I appreciate the balanced approach utilized with the Working Snake River Project.

From my perspective, these four Snake River dams are more trouble than they are worth, not only because of their negative impact to natural steelhead and salmon survival but also to the cites upstream from the dams such as Lewiston and Clarkston where the trapped sedimentation is threatening the integrity of aging dikes that protect these towns and their citizens.