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Newhouse is in Over His Head on Dams by Gary Cox Yakima Herald, June 16, 2022

To the editor -- I have received numerous updates from U.S. Rep. Dan Newhouse lately touting his introduction of a bill in Congress to save the Snake River dams. Unfortunately, he is misguided on this issue.

These four dams were built starting in 1955 and finished in 1977, and immediately salmon populations plummeted. As both a farmer and fisherman, it grieves me that to date the U.S. has spent over $17 billion in restoring salmon runs, with little to show for it.

While it is true that the dams do provide some electricity, irrigation water and navigation capabilities to the Lewiston-Clarkston Valley, these are minimal in comparison to the environmental damage to the ecosystem (both cultural and physical) of the surrounding area.

At some point rational thought will prevail, recognize that these aging dams are nearing the end of their useful life, and will succumb to the inevitable build-up of sediment decreasing power production/navigation through the river behind.

If only Dan could regain the clarity he exhibited when voting to impeach Trump, he would recognize that the Simpson bill is the right way to proceed in addressing this complex issue. Pay the piper while the cost is reasonable and get on with the recovery to follow, eh?

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A BILL

To provide for operations of the Federal Columbia River Power System pursuant to a certain operation plan for a specified period of time, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
The Act may be cited as the "Federal Columbia River Power System Certainty Act".

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
For the purposes of this Act:
(1) FCRPS.--The term "FCRPS" means those portions of the Federal Columbia River Power System that are the subject of the Supplemental Opinion.

(2) SECRETARIES.
--The term "Secretaries" means--
(A) the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Bureau of Reclamation;
(B) the Secretary of Energy, acting through the Bonneville Power Administration; and
(C) the Secretary of the Army, acting through the Army Corps of Engineers.

(3) SUPPLEMENTAL OPINION.--The term "Supplemental Opinion" means the document titled "Columbia River System Operations Environmental Impact Statement Record of Decision", and dated September 2020.

SEC. 3. OPERATION OF FCRPS.
The Secretaries shall operate the FCRPS in a manner consistent with the reasonable and prudent alternative set forth in the Supplemental Opinion.
(bluefish inserts: Preferred Alternative is PA in table below, while MO3 is the Multi-Objective centered around Remove Snake River Embankments.)

SEC. 4. AMENDMENTS TO SUPPLEMENTAL OPINION.
(a) IN GENERAL.--Notwithstanding section 3, the Secretaries may amend portions of the Supplemental Opinion and operate the FCRPS in accordance with such amendments if all of the Secretaries determine, in the sole discretion of each Secretary, that--
(1) the amendment is necessary for public safety or transmission and grid reliability; or
(2) the actions, operations, or other requirements that the amendment would remove are no longer warranted.

(b) RESTRICTION ON AMENDMENTS.
--The process described in subsection (a) shall be the only method by which the Secretaries may operate the FCRPS in any way that is not consistent with the reasonable and prudent alternative set forth in the Supplemental Opinion.

SEC. 5. LIMITATION ON RESTRICTING FCRPS ELECTRICAL GENERATION; CLARIFICATION. (a) RESTRICTING FCRPS ELECTRICAL GENERATION.
--No structural modification, action, study, or engineering plan that restricts electrical generation at any FCRPS hydroelectric dam, or that limits navigation on the Snake River in the State of Washington, Oregon, or Idaho, shall proceed unless such proposal is specifically and expressly authorized by a Federal statute enacted after the date of the enactment of this Act.
(b) CLARIFICATION.--Nothing in this section affects or interferes with the authority of the Secretaries to conduct operation and maintenance activities or make capital improvements necessary to meet authorized project purposes of FCRPS facilities.