Tag Archives: dams

Ag stakeholders say they’re shut out of federal Snake River dam mediation

From the Capital Press Northwest stakeholders say they’ve been shut out of the federal mediation sessions over the Snake River dams. “We are not being informed about anything that’s happening in the mediation,” said Kurt Miller, executive director of Northwest RiverPartners, an association that advocates for hydropower. “In the process, there hasn’t been any mediation that’s involved us.” Read the ... Read More »

Lock and dam system benefits Pacific Northwest, advocate says

From the Capital Press The Columbia-Snake River System is a keystone of the Pacific Northwest agricultural economy, an advocate for river users says. An average of 51 million tons of cargo moves through the lower Columbia River each year. About two-thirds of those exports are grain, and about 8.5 million tons of cargo are barged through the inland system of ... Read More »

‘Hot water pollution’ lawsuit threat aims to remove 4 Eastern WA dams to save salmon

From the Tri-City Herald Four conservation and fishing groups plan a lawsuit over high water temperatures in the Snake River, calling for actions that could include removing the four lower Snake River dams in Eastern Washington. Columbia Riverkeeper, Idaho Rivers United, Idaho Conservation League and the Northwest Sportfishing Industry Association formally notified the Army Corps of Engineers on Friday that ... Read More »

Current research is inconclusive regarding possible delayed mortality effects of Snake River dams

From the Pacific Northwest Waterways Association On July 10, the Pacific Northwest Waterways Association (PNWA) released a review of scientific literature which confirms that data is lacking to confirm delayed mortality effects of the Lower Snake River dams (LSRD) on ESA listed fish. Delayed mortality is the scientific hypothesis that proponents of dam breaching rely upon to justify removal of ... Read More »

WAWG Testifies on the Importance of the Lower Snake River Dams

Michelle Hennings, executive director of the Washington Association of Wheat Growers (WAWG) testified June 26, 2023, in front of the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries regarding the importance of the Columbia Snake River System, and the Lower Snake River Dams in particular, for wheat farmers in the state of Washington. “Farmers, including myself and my family, ... Read More »

Amid a battle over Snake River dams, a look at how the salmon are doing

From the Capital Press The vast majority of salmon are getting up, over, around and through the four lower Snake River dams even as legal challenges and political battles swirl around them, according to the federal agency in charge of monitoring fish health. Read the rest of the article here. Read More »

Commentary: President needs to visit dams before siding with breaching advocates

By U.S. Reps. Dan Newhouse and Cathy McMorris Rodgers Special to the Walla Walla Union-Bulletin Last month, President Biden signaled his support for tearing out four federal hydroelectric dams that are integral to energy reliability, navigation, and irrigation in the Pacific Northwest. Here’s our message to the president: Come visit our communities and see the river system with your own eyes ... Read More »

Editorial: Vilsack needs to defend lower Snake River dams

From the Capital Press There’s something fishy about the “mediation” taking place at the White House. This mediation, which is held in secret, is an effort by the White House Council on Environmental Quality and the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service to come up with a plan for the four lower Snake River dams. Read the rest of the article ... Read More »

PNW stakeholders send letter supporting dams to ag secretary

The Washington Association of Wheat Growers (WAWG) joined with other Pacific Northwest agricultural stakeholders in sending a letter to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, outlining concerns over increasing rhetoric at the federal level on breaching the lower Snake River dams and highlighting the importance of the entire Columbia-Snake River System to the U.S. “… We are increasingly concerned that the USG ... Read More »