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New Bill Aims to Protect Snake River Dams Amid Ongoing Debate by Dana Greig Idaho County Free Press, March 28, 2025

Keeping the Snake River dams intact is essential for maintaining
a critical transportation route for the region's agricultural economy.

Lawmakers from Idaho and Washington have introduced a new bill to keep the four lower Snake River dams in place. The Northwest Energy Security Act, introduced by Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho) and Representative Dan Newhouse (R-Wash.), directs the federal government to follow a 2020 environmental study that recommends not removing the dams. Supporters of the bill argue that the dams provide clean electricity, help transport goods, and support farming, especially for wheat growers in Idaho and the Pacific Northwest.

The importance of these dams to area wheat growers throughout the PNW was recently demonstrated to Idaho growers during the Idaho Wheat Commission's (IWC) annual Wheat Marketing Tour. The tour takes grain growers and industry leaders to Portland each January to learn about the journey of wheat after it leaves the field. Normally, all wheat exports from the PNW travel to Portland to continue their journey overseas. A major stop on the tour is major barge transporter, Shaver Transportation, whose barges are designed to work with the Columbia Snake River System's grain elevators and locks.

Shaver's fleet can carry nearly 69,800 short tons of grain and other bulk commodities, including wheat, barley, soybeans and corn. Barges offer an efficient and environmentally friendly transportation method -- a single barge can carry as much grain as 35 jumbo train hoppers or 134 semitrucks. Supporters argue that keeping the Snake River dams intact is essential for maintaining this critical transportation route for the region's agricultural economy.

One example of the economic difference barge use makes was presented during a different portion of the marketing tour by Steve Yorke of Columbia Grain International.

"The thing that most people don't realize, is to go from North Dakota to Portland [on a train] it's about double the cost of going from Portland all the way to Japan on a barge," explained Yorke. "Water travel is a lot cheaper than rail."

Despite strong backing from lawmakers and industry groups, the bill faces ongoing opposition from environmental groups and tribes who believe the dams threaten endangered salmon populations. Although salmon numbers in the Columbia River have improved since the 1990s, they are still below recovery goals. Some experts note that similar fish declines have been seen in rivers without dams, suggesting that ocean conditions and other factors also play a role.

For now, the debate continues, with supporters emphasizing the economic and environmental benefits of keeping the dams, while opponents push to restore salmon habitats and rethink the region's energy strategy.

Related Pages:
Columbia Grain CEO: 'Cooler, Smarter Heads' Will Prevail on Snake River Dams by Matt Weaver, Capital Press, 8/22/22