the film forum library tutorial contact DONATE

Identify Costs for Breaching Dams by Don Schwerin Tri-City Herald, August 25, 2019

ECONorthwest issued a report that concludes taking out the Lower Snake River dams makes economic sense. Reps. McMorris Rodgers and Newhouse were quick to denounce it as "another example of Seattle-based interests failing to understand our way of life in Central Eastern Washington."

They are right. The report is dated, naive and dismissive, but take it seriously. The report may be flawed but it is crystal clear about the politics. ECONorthwest uses a Save our Wild Salmon study from 2018 that polled registered voters from around the state: Sixty-three percent were willing to pay $7 per month more on their electric bill to save the wild salmon.

If put to a statewide vote, the dams would be breached.

We on the east side of Snoqualmie are not going to make the eventual decisions about the Lower Snake River Dams. It is only responsible to take seriously the questions raised by "Seattle-based interests" -- the ones who have the votes and the money. It is up to us east-siders to identify the costs of breaching the dams and make sure that this region is protected if they decide to bring the dozers and dynamite. Ignoring the threat does not help.