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A Possible Snake River Dams Solution by Jim Greer Bend Bulletin, January 12, 2022

The question of "should the lower four Snake River dams be removed to save salmon?" seems never-ending, while a potential solution is now within reach. With the many stakeholders, such as power utilities and conservation groups, dug in with opposing positions siding with either "the dams should stay" or "the dams must go", one could conclude there is no possible resolution.

For over three decades the populations of Snake River salmon and steelhead have plummeted to levels nearing extinction. Billions of dollars have been spent on fish ladders, water release programs, habitat restoration, removal of road culverts and other stream blockages, killing of predators like cormorants, sea lions and smolt-eating pikeminnows. Hatcheries have been built to raise and replace the wild steelhead and salmon for human harvest, but the protected wild component of these fisheries is still at all-time lows.

Lawsuits and judges are drawn into the fray to determine if plans developed by agencies are adequate for recovery of the salmon and steelhead. Invariably the plans have been found to be insufficient. The scientists found smolt mortality is more than 20% at each lower Snake River dam as they migrate downstream. The surviving fish must then negotiate the remaining four Columbia River Dams and reservoirs. Ocean conditions and climate change have also added their impacts to the equation in recent years.

So, whose ox is being gored? Besides the fish, the biggest losers are the Native American tribes that culturally, spiritually and for sustenance have depended on salmon for thousands of years. Sport and commercial fisherman and the communities and businesses associated with these activities are huge economic losers.

Utilities make the case that the lower four dams provide reliable, and carbon free electricity, while fearing the wrath of their customers if electric rates were to rise. At the same time new clean energy technologies and conservation programs are expanding quickly and adding replacement power to the electrical grid.

The state's scientists say that removing these dams will give the fish a long-term fighting chance. Their data show no matter what has been done to date, the wild fish populations continue to decline. Conservation groups make the case for salmon recovery, increasing biodiversity, and adding jobs and economic gains through new recreational opportunities. With the dam removal option, irrigators, grain growers, barging companies and others dependent on the dams fear lost livelihoods. Many politicians appear to see the challenge of consensus too high of a mountain to climb. Tribes remind everyone of what the United States promised to them in treaties and agreements made long ago.

So yes, saving salmon is a highly complex problem. However, there is a proposal on the table today that addresses most all of the concerns. U.S. Rep. Mike Simpson, a Republican from Idaho, has put forward a draft plan he calls The Columbia Basin Initiative. He has a big picture view of the future of wild Snake River salmon and steelhead and where they are headed and the costs and impacts to those affected by dam removal. He and his staff have done extensive reviews of the science and past mitigation actions and have concluded dam removal is the only option for success. The Initiative addresses all aspects of the controversy, how issues will be addressed, and the federal dollars used to cover the costs. Simpson notes that several congressional representatives and senators from the four states involved (Montana, Idaho, Washington and Oregon) sit in powerful committee positions, which makes now the time to move forward. We need support from all of our congressional representatives as time is running out for these iconic fish species.

I encourage you to look at Rep. Simpson's initiative at the Columbia Basin Initiative and contact federal senators and representatives to get their support and ask your friends across the four states to do the same.