U.S. engineers study fate of Lower Snake River dams

The four Lower Snake River dams have been blamed for killing 81 percent of ocean-bound juvenile fish

May 7, 1998
Web posted at: 10:10 p.m. EDT (0210 GMT)

From the Environmental News Network staff

(CNN) -- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers wants to know how the removal of four dams along the Lower Snake River would affect endangered salmon and steelhead runs, and the region's economy.

While the Corps' study will not be completed until next year, special interest groups ranging from environmentalists to aluminum producers are trying to garner support for their positions on the river's future. The final decision will be up to Congress.

U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, D-Washington, said senators have shown little enthusiasm for removing the dams, and it will be hard to convince lawmakers. The Corps also is looking at other options.

According to an economic report commissioned by the Oregon Natural Resources Council, retiring the dams to save salmon and steelhead runs would save the region $87 million a year.

The report, which was released in April, says operating costs for the dams are $236.2 million a year, including the costs of power production, operating the navigation waterway and irrigation subsidies.

If the dams were breached by removing the earthen portion and leaving the concrete structures, costs could fall to $149.5 million.

According to the council's report, there is an 80 percent to 95 percent chance that wild Snake River salmon and steelhead runs would recover to 1960s levels if the dams were breached.

The Corps' study will lay out the government's long-term strategy for restoring depressed Snake River salmon and steelhead runs. The agency also is looking at two other options: leaving things as they are and increasing juvenile fish transportation.

While environmentalists say breaching the dams is the only way to revive salmon and steelhead on the Snake, others say losses in irrigation, transportation and power generation will cripple the region. The cost to retire all four dams is between $500 million and $850 million.

Copyright 1998, Environmental News Network, All Rights Reserved

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• To spill or not to spill: Helping salmon migrate
• No sockeye salmon have returned to Idaho lake

Related sites:

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• Oregon Natural Resources Council
• Remove/Bypass Lower Snake River Dams

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