snake river dams

Concern is growing in farm country that while the Snake River dams may not be physically removed, environmental groups may successfully get the dams “functionally disabled” in the name of fish conservation.  Eastern Oregon Representative Cliff Bentz during last week’s Natural Resources Subcommittee on the Water, Wildlife, and Fisheries said the conversation around fish populations is not looking i

On Wednesday, Lawmakers from across the Northwest, including central Washington’s Dan Newhouse, eastern Washington’s Michael Baumgartner, eastern Oregon’s Cliff Bentz, and northern Idaho’s Russ Fulcher introduced legislation aimed at protecting the Lower Snake River dams.  The three bills include:   ...

A Washington state senator is pushing to keep the four lower Snake River dams intact.  Senator Matt Boehnke said the dams are vital for agriculture, the economy and energy security.   "And really, at the end of the day, it keeps costs low in our environment that we're seeing the budget crisis in the state, we're having cost issues throughout. We want the ...

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

On Thursday, Idaho Senators Mike Crapo and Jim Risch demanded the Biden administration stop any eleventh-hour attempts to breach the lower Snake River dams.   “The incoming administration should be allowed the time and opportunity to carefully review and shape the management of the Columbia River System, including the lower Snake River dams.  The rive...

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.