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Dam and Salmon Study Part 1 by Bob Larson AgInfo.net, November 19, 2021

I'm Bob Larson. The survival of Chinook Salmon is more likely tied to fixing our ocean than it is to removing Snake River dams. Kintama Research scientists, in a recent study, found the survival rate is similar for salmon traveling through all West Coast rivers, with and without dams, to a common destination, the Pacific Ocean. So, Kintama President David Welch says the problems could be climate change, pollution, or any number of other factors ...

WELCH ... "The key message from our paper is it's not just one villain. Everywhere is having these problems."

The important thing now, Welch says is broadening our research ...

WELCH ... "This is the start of, what I hope will be a longer conversation. You know, there's been a lot of insistence that, you know, we must do something now to fix the salmon problems because they're in crisis and I do agree that they're in crisis. Where I respectfully disagree from many of my colleagues that are saying that is I think they've jumped too soon to the conclusion that the dams are causing the major problem."

But, Welch says we need more agreement or realization ...

WELCH ... "They really need to look more broadly and think about, if the dams are the major cause of the problem then why are we having very similar problems all up and down the West Coast of North American, including in water sheds that don't have dams."

Welch says the salmon survival data that conflicts with calls for dam removal is out there and available, you just need to put in the time to find it.

Related Sites:
Lower Snake River Methane Emissions by DamSense