the film forum library tutorial contact

Survey Finds Majority in Northwest Support Keeping Eastern Washington Dams by Annette Cary Yakama Herald, December 21, 2021

The majority of Northwest residents polled in a survey commissioned by Northwest RiverPartners said they oppose tearing down the four Snake River dams in Eastern Washington.

The findings, released Tuesday, are in contrast to survey results released in October by Washington Conservation Voters that found widespread support in Washington state for removing the four dams to help salmon.

The newest survey concluded that residents polled in Washington, Oregon and Idaho supported retaining the dams -- when asked in connection with the hydropower they produced.

Some 60% of 1,200 people polled said they supported the use of hydroelectric dams on the lower Snake River to produce electricity.

That included 68% of the Idaho residents polled, 61% of the Washington residents polled and 55% of the Oregon residents surveyed.

Those opposing the four hydroelectric dams accounted for 17% of those polled, including 18% of Idaho and Oregon residents and 17% of Washington residents.

A total of 23% of those polled said they were undecided.

"Today's survey results ultimately demonstrate that Pacific Northwest residents understand the integral role hydropower plays in supporting our clean energy grid and fish recovery and our policy leaders should take note," said Kurt Miller, executive director of Northwest RiverPartners.

Northwest RiverPartners is a nonprofit with members that include electric utility customers, farmers and businesses that benefit from the dams.

"With national inflation now hitting a 30-year high and soaring energy prices, affordable access to hydropower is more critical than ever when it comes to achieving our region's ambitious decarbonization and economic justice goals," Miller said.

Some 43% of those polled said they were concerned that removing or breaching the Snake River dams would increase electricity costs. Respondents were allowed to pick two areas of concern.

DAMS AND AG, CLEAN ENERGY

Some 35% said they were concerned about losing a carbon-free source of energy, and 29% said they were concerned about impacts on agriculture.

The dams are needed to barge wheat and other farm products, including for export across the Pacific Ocean, and they help some farmers with irrigation water.

In addition, 20% of respondents said they were concerned about impacts on rural communities and on low-income communities.

That was followed by 12% worried about increased blackouts and 10% concerned about impacts on small businesses in the areas of the dams.

The dams include Ice Harbor Dam near the Tri-Cities upriver to Lower Granite Dam near Lewiston, Idaho.

A minority of respondents, 29%, agreed with a statement that dams on the lower Snake River are a "major source of problems for wild salmon, orcas and other animals. We should make the decision to remove the dams to protect animals and their habitats."

The survey suggests that support for the lower Snake River Dams is bipartisan and geographically diverse, with both metro and rural resident indicating high levels of support, according to Northwest RiverPartners.

A majority of both Republicans and also Democrats surveyed in each of the three states said they supported the hydroelectric dams on the lower Snake River.

That included 63% of Democrats and 65% of Republicans in Washington; 71% of Democrats and 75% of Republicans in Idaho; and 52% of Democrats and 67% of Republicans in Oregon.

In Washington state, 61% of those polled in King County, home to Seattle, said they supported the dams. In Eastern Washington 68% of those polled supported the dams.

The poll results were released less than a week after Washington Gov. Jay Inslee issued a policy brief on saving salmon, outline plans ranging from restoring salmon habitat to addressing predation on salmon.

It called for identifying whether there are reasonable means for replacing the benefits of the four dams should they be removed, which would be a federal decision.

In October, Inslee and U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., announced a joint federal and state process to see if there are reasonable means to replace the benefits of the lower Snake River dams.

It followed a similar proposal early this year by U.S. Rep. Mike Simpson, R-Idaho, to spend $33 billion to breach the four lower Snake River dams.

The money would cover dismantling the earthen portions of the dams to let water flow freely, building new energy and transportation systems and addressing the economic impact of the loss of the dams.

Political efforts to remove the lower Snake River Dams should be informed by the latest survey results, Northwest RiverPartners said.

The survey was conducted by DHM Research, which describes itself as independent and nonpartisan, from July 26 to Aug. 3.

The survey of Washington residents with results released in October was done by the The Mellman Group and paid for by the Water Foundation, based in California. It focused on benefits to salmon rather than the production of low-cost electricity.

The survey polled 800 residents of Washington state, with 58% of them saying they want businesses, scientists, farmers, tribes and communities to cooperate on a plan to remove the lower Snake River dams.

In the Seattle area 63% of those surveyed supported removing the dams, compare to 47% in Eastern Washington, according to the The Mellman Group.

Related Pages:
Poll Shows Washington Voters Choose Salmon Over Dams by Staff, Spokesman-Review, 3/31/18
Washingtonians say They'd Take Salmon Over the Dams, Poll Finds by Eric Barker, Lewiston Tribune, 3/31/18

Related Sites:
Survey Methodology