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Remove Snake River Dams by Eleanor Mattice Spokesman-Review, February 1, 2022

Sixteen thousand years of salmon runs in the Pacific Northwest are threatened by many factors but mostly by dams.

The four lower Snake River dams prevent the salmon's adequate return to hundreds of miles of cold water habitat in the upper Snake River in Idaho. We taxpayers have spent $17 billion over the past 20 years on salmon recovery but to no avail. If the numbers get too low, wild salmon won't be able to recover. Hatchery fish are not the answer as they have reduced fitness and rates of survival.

We need to honor our treaties with the Native American tribes and protect the salmon. Salmon are essential to their members.

Rep. Mike Simpson (R-Idaho) has proposed a feasible plan to remove the earthen sections of the lower four Snake River dams to facilitate fish passage into the needed Idaho habitat. The science from multiple agencies is conclusive about dam removal. There is no significant irrigation provided by these dams and barging of grain can be mitigated by rail. Regional investments will help adjacent counties and the cities of Lewiston and Clarkston. Twenty thousand jobs a year through 2031 will be added. Our economy would be strengthened. Bold action is needed and American innovation can help us succeed!

Salmon are necessary for healthy watersheds, people, orca and our economy. Washington state once had one of the largest salmon runs in the world! Freeing the Snake river and restoring those runs would make the Pacific Northwest great again.