snake river dams

On Wednesday, Idaho Senator Jim Risch and Central Washington Representative Dan Newhouse introduced the Northwest Security Act.  The legislation would o require the Bureau of Reclamation, the Bonneville Power Administration, and the U.S. Army C...

Once again, efforts are underway to remove the Snake River dams.  Officials in the state of Washington as well as the Federal level say the dams must be removed to help salmon migration numbers as well as the overall environment.  Central Washington’s Dan Newhouse said over the past four years of the Biden Administration, the dams have been in the crosshairs, despite the many benefits they bring t

In late September, the U.S. Department of Energy announced a study looking at meeting electrical needs in the event that the four lower Snake River dams were removed.  This news comes of the heals of a variety of studies and proposal looking at removing the dams that are so important to the farming community across the Northwest, and across the nation.  Michell...

Earlier this week, the U.S. Department of Energy announced a study on replacing the Lower Snake River Dams.  DOE said the Pacific Northwest Regional Energy Planning Project will be an 18-month study, exploring how utilities in Idaho, Washington, Oregon and Montana can deal with future power needs in the event that the Snake River dams are removed.  The stu...

Scientists with Washington State University’s Freight Policy Transportation Institute are reaching out to regional stakeholders as part of a newly launched independent review of a state-contacted analysis of transport impacts from potential breaching of the four lower Snake Rivers dams.  The...

Congressman Cliff Bentz (R-OR) has announced that he will lead an upcoming Water, Wildlife, and Fisheries Subcommittee Hearing related to the Lower Snake River Dams and their importance to the people of Oregon, Washington, and Idaho.

Why did the Biden Administration choose this part of the country?

Legislators reiterated the importance of the dams on river commerce, agriculture and energy production.

Newhouse said that his bill would continue supporting fish populations, stating that they are finding creative solutions to ensure fish species thrive while keeping the dams.

Last month, the EPA ordered the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to stop oil and other toxic chemical discharges into the Columbia River.  The announcement put the issue of river spills back to the front burner.  The group Columbia Riverkeeper sued the Corps last year, and says these pollutants harm fish and other wildlife in the Columbia and Snake Rivers.  Miles Johnson, Co...