dams

Oregon State University is part of a U.S. Department of Energy effort to improve the country’s hydro-electric system, which contains many dams around 100 years old.  OSU Professor of Electrical Engineering Ted Brekken said his work is focused on making hydro-power more efficient, now that wind and solar power are also part of the grid. “Takin...

Last week, the Senate’s Environment and Public Works Committee unanimously passed its Water Resources Development Act of 2022. WRDA provides improvements for the nation’s ports, inland waterways, locks, dams, flood protection, ecosystem restoration, and other water resources infrastructure. It’s good ...

Many in the farming community, including Representative Dan Newhouse, said the opposition against the Snake River dams has become more intense as of recent. The Chair of the Western Caucus points out that Washington Governor Jay Inslee, Washington senator Patty Murray, and the White House have stepped up their pressure on breaching the dams ...

Dan Newhouse, chair of the Congressional Western Caucus, took to the House floor last week to call on the Biden Administration to do more to help producers. Newhouse noted farmers across the PNW work hard to feed to country and the world, adding many across the U ...

On Wednesday, Washington Representative Kim Schrier announced $220 million in federal infrastructure funding for downstream fish passage at the Howard Hanson Dam. Representative Schrier has been pushing for this funding since taking office and led a delegation letter in November urging that this project be funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law ...

Legislation regarding U.S. investments in locks and dams and other inland waterways investments passed out of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee last week. The Water Resources Development Act of 2020 authorizes construction on 34 pending water infrastructure projects ...

Last week, Representative Dan Newhouse announced a town hall to update those in Central Washington and the surrounding area to the progress to the Columbia River Treaty modernization efforts.  The town hall will be moderated by U.S. Columbia River Treaty Negotiator Jill Smail.  Sh...

It’s not a new movement, but there are several different groups working to have the dams on the Snake and Columbia rivers removed.  Whether the claim is about fish population, natural habitat, Representative Dan Newhouse said it’s a misguided argument.  The Central Wa...

On Friday, Representatives Dan Newhouse and Cathy McMorris Rogers applauded the announced that HR 3144 will go to the full House floor for a vote.  H.R. 3144 would protect the eight dams and ensure dams and fish can coexist by preserving the current Federal Columbia River Power System Biological Opinion (BiOp) until 2022.  ...

The Army Corps of Engineers, Bureau of Reclamation took public comment on the Snake River dams during an open house in Pasco Monday.   Rebecca Weiss with Army Corps of Engineers said they are currently in the process of creating an environmental impact study examining the impact the dams have on salmon.  ...