From U.S. Wheat Associates The Columbia Snake River System is the network of federal dams and locks on the Columbia River and connected water bodies, including the Snake River. This system enables grain barges to carry wheat 360 miles from Lewiston, Idaho, to export elevators as far west as Longview, Wash. In marketing years 2019/20 and 2020/21, more than 55% ... Read More »
More than 100 national agricultural organizations, regional/state organizations and companies have signed onto a letter to Pres. Joe Biden, authored by the Washington Association of Wheat Growers (WAWG), expressing support for the Columbia-Snake River System. “On behalf of the undersigned organizations representing farmers and businesses across the agricultural value chain, we write to express our strong support for preserving the ... Read More »
The Washington Association of Wheat Growers and the Washington Grain Commission were contacted by the staff of Gov. Jay Inslee and Sen. Patty Murray this week to make us aware of a forthcoming process to investigate the economic and environmental impacts of breaching the four lower Snake River dams. As reported in several media outlets, Gov. Inslee commented on his ... Read More »
From bpa.gov At first glance, dams look like they only hold back and store water, but they actually do so much more. Dams can help protect communities from floods, provide water to irrigate farmland, enable safe passage for boats and barges, create places to play on the river and provide the Northwest with renewable, carbon-free electricity. While not all dams ... Read More »
From the Capital Press The navigation lock at The Dalles Dam on the Columbia River will be closed for repairs for five weeks early next year. That’s three weeks longer than the usual two-week closure for repairs each year. Read the rest of the article here. Read More »
From the Capital Press Zippy Duvall recently got an up-close look at the Lower Granite Dam, one of four dams Pacific Northwest farmers say are critical to their livelihoods. Duvall, president of the American Farm Bureau Federation, toured the area to learn more about the lower Snake River dams and offer his support to the region’s farmers. Read the rest ... Read More »
From the Capital Press The record-shattering heat wave in the Pacific Northwest has prompted fishing and conservation groups to ask a federal court to order more spill from dams on the lower Snake and Columbia rivers next spring to aid the migration of salmon and steelhead to the Pacific Ocean. Read the rest of the story here. Read More »
From the Tri-City Herald Is Gov. Jay Inslee plotting to get rid of the four lower Snake River dams? Or did he offer them up in a meeting Thursday primarily as a way to appease Washington state tribal leaders?Tri-Citians and other dam stakeholders deserve clarity on the governor’s position, and they deserve it now. Read the rest here. Read More »
From the Capital Press Northwest wheat industry leaders say Idaho Rep. Mike Simpson’s plan to remove four dams on the lower Snake River has little support. But they worry about what the Republican congressman could do to push the plan through anyway. Read the rest of the article here. Read More »
Breaching is not the solution Nearly 50 agricultural, barge, power and port organizations, along with river pilots, cities, fishermen and exporters based in the Northwest, have signed onto a letter opposing Rep. Mike Simpson’s $34 billion proposal to breach the four lower Snake River dams. The three-page letter, which is being sent to 30 of the region’s politicians, including governors, ... Read More »
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