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 »
Tag Archives: dams
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 »
Senate Democrats propose more Snake River dams studies
From the Capital Press Washington Senate Democrats propose funding studies on replacing the electricity and irrigation benefits from the four Lower Snake River dams. Read the article here. Read More »
Legislation Supports Barge Transportation And Lower Snake River Dams
From U.S. Wheat Associates A coalition of U.S. farm and food industry groups recently expressed support for a bipartisan Congressional agreement that, in part, maintains navigational access to the Lower Snake River Dams. The Agricultural Transportation Working Group noted that the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2022 helps protect U.S. agriculture’s dependence on comprehensive transportation system including inland waterways ... Read More »
WAWG responds to lower Snake River dams final report
Recommends wheat farmers maintain strong opposition to dam breaching. The Washington Association of Wheat Growers (WAWG) released the following statement in response to the findings of the final Lower Snake River Dams (LSRD) Benefit Replacement Report and the recommendations from Sen. Patty Murray and Gov. Jay Inslee: “The lower Snake River dams allow wheat farmers in Washington and across the ... Read More »
Columbia Grain CEO: Keep Snake River dams
From world-grain.com Columbia Grain International (CGI) has joined Columbia Snake River System supporters in the agriculture industry who are warning of dire consequences if four dams are breached as part of a joint federal-state project to restore the local salmon population. “We need to keep the lower Snake River dams,” said Jeff Van Pevenage, president and chief executive officer of ... Read More »
Leadership change at Port of Lewiston: Managers talk Snake River dams
From the Capital Press Stopping any plans to breach the four lower Snake River dams remains a top priority, the incoming and outgoing general managers of the Port of Lewiston say. Read the rest of the article here. Read More »