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Officials to Study Recreation Loss If Snake River Dams Breached by John McKay News Talk KFLD, November 5, 2024

Recreation is a big part of Washington State's culture and identity

The US Army Corps of Engineers along with WA State are expanding a study about the four lower Snake River Dams.

The study will examine the impact on lost recreation if dams breached

The Corps study says only Congress has that authority to breach the dams, other studies have indicated the process would take a number of years, and cost tens of billions of dollars.

According to the Corps release:

"State and federal officials estimate the recreation study will cost $1.2 million and expect to complete it by 2026. The recreation study will seek to identify the potential loss of existing recreation opportunities associated with the draw down of reservoirs on the lower Snake River as well as necessary investments to accommodate potential future recreation opportunities under a dam breach scenario.

"Recreation is a big part of Washington State's culture and identity," said Megan Duffy, director of the Recreation and Conservation Office. "Not only does outdoor recreation improve the mental and physical health of our residents, but more than $26 billion is spent on recreation trips and equipment annually, supporting 264,000 jobs across Washington State. It's important that we examine the potential impact to recreation in a scenario where the lower Snake River dams are breached."

Best Fishing Chance

Like it or not, for whatever reason the extraction industries based in the Pacific Northwest are on the decline. The small communities reliant on logging and mining are in a state of transition and, in order to remain economically viable, must seek other activities to replace lost jobs and revenue.

Fortunately for many states and communities, the solutions to these economic puzzles can be drawn from the very same natural-resources base that has sustained them in years past, albeit in different ways.

For example recent studies have shown that the return of harvestable populations of salmon to Idaho would provide a definite financial return to Idaho's rural riverside communities, with more than $71 million in direct annual revenues and 2,100 Idaho jobs, 700 of which woulld remain in these small towns. Currently between $5 million and %8 million is lost annually due to resident and non-resident salmon fishemrn leaving Idaho to fish elsewhere.

Bypassing the four Lower Snake dams is the best chance the fish, fishermen, and Idaho economy have for success.

Jeff Barney Boise, Idaho
January 2020