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An Idaho congressman has unveiled an energy and infrastructure proposal that would end litigation over endangered salmon in the Northwest, authorizing the removal of four dams on the Snake River in Washington beginning in 2030. The ambitious $33 billion plan serves as a new vision for the Northwest, providing the chance for a fresh start.
For decades, the region has been caught up in endless litigation and soaring costs in attempts to save salmon in the Snake and Columbia rivers. Scientists and conservationists have for years pointed to the dams on the Snake River as a key impediment to saving the salmon from extinction: the dams prevent salmon migrating to their usual spawning grounds, shutting down the region's aquatic connectivity. However, the dams are also centerpieces of the region's energy, agriculture, and transportation economy. At its heart, the new plan seeks to find ways to replace the dams' numerous benefits through community investments.
Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson, a conservative with conservation tendencies, says that he recognizes the plan isn't a finished product. Instead, it's an overall concept meant to jumpstart a conversation about re-envisioning the Northwest. He envisions sustainable salmon runs, clean energy to replace the lost electricity, tourism and recreation, tribal co-management of species, transportation to serve the booming agricultural center, and investments in the region's many vibrant communities.
The plan was released only after discussion with over 300 groups on what communities would need if the dams came out, in addition to extensive work with wide-ranging stakeholders. Power utilities, businesses, farmers, and conservationists have all expressed interest in the plan, excited by new opportunity and the potential for legal certainty; in exchange for breaching the dams and increased funding for state and tribal co-managed salmon restoration, environmentalists would be banned from litigating over the four Columbia River dams for 35 years.
A new Conservation in the West poll released by Colorado College's State of the Rockies Project shows that the proposal is likely to be popular in Idaho: 89 percent of Idahoans support improving migration of salmon in Idaho rivers so that there are abundant populations.
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I want to be clear that I’m not certain removing these dams will restore Idaho salmon and prevent their extinction. But I am certain if we do not take this course of action, we are condemning Idaho salmon to extinction.”
