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Trump Signs Memorandum to Preserve Lower Snake River Dams, Reversing Biden-era Agreements by Dave Furtado KEPR TV, June 13, 2025

COLUMBIA BASIN, WA. -- President Trump is taking action to preserve the hydroelectric dams in the Columbia Basin area.

In a memorandum signed on Thursday, June 13, by the president, the move withdraws from the "Restoring Healthy and Abundant Salmon, Steelhead, and Other Native Fish Populations in the Columbia River Basin" memorandum agreement made by the Biden Administration in 2023, which critic pointed to a potential pathway to breaching the Lower Snake River dams.

While conservation groups and tribal leaders claim the dams are hindering the population of salmon, steelhead, and other native fish, the Trump Administration says breaching the dams would result in reduced water supply to farmers, increased energy costs, and disrupted shipping channels.

Rep. Dan Newhouse (WA-04), who has led the charge in combating efforts to breach the four Lower Snake River dams, released the following statement on President Donald Trump's memorandum:

"Throughout my time in Congress, I have stood firm in my support for the Lower Snake River Dams and the critical role they play in our region's economy. Today's action by President Trump reverses the efforts by the Biden administration and extreme environmental activists to remove the dams, which would have threatened the reliability of our power grid, raised energy prices, and decimated our ability to export grain to foreign markets. I want to thank the President for his decisive action to protect our dams, and I look forward to continuing to work with the administration for the benefit of the Fourth District."

Related Pages:
Rep. Dan Newhouse Optimistic About Legislation to Protect Snake River Dams by Dave Furtado, KEPR TV, 3/15/25
Dams on the Snake River are Killing Salmon and, Ultimately, Orcas. Don't Stop Removal by Michael Shurgot, The News Tribune, 3/9/25
Nine New Bills Filed to Reverse Biden Administration's Snake River Dams Agreement by Annette Cary, Tri-City Herald, 4/7/24