The U.S. government has announced its plan to invest over $1 billion in the next decade to help revive depleted salmon populations in the Pacific Northwest. This initiative also aims to address the potential consequences of breaching four controversial dams on the Snake River, such as the impact on hydropower and transportation. While President Joe Biden’s administration did not explicitly call for the removal of the dams, Northwest tribes and conservationists view this agreement as a significant step towards dismantling them. The Columbia River Basin, which used to be the world’s largest salmon-producing river system, has seen a decline in salmon stocks, with some species already extinct and others protected under the Endangered Species Act. Dams have been identified as a primary cause of this decline, and federal fisheries scientists believe that breaching the dams would offer the best chance for salmon recovery. The agreement includes the construction of new clean energy projects to replace the hydropower generated by the dams. It also provides for additional water to be spilled during certain seasons to aid specific salmon runs. Additionally, the federal Bonneville Power Administration will allocate $300 million over ten years for the restoration of native fish and their habitats. The U.S. government will also conduct studies to explore alternatives for transportation, irrigation, and recreation currently provided by the dams. The agreement has drawn support from tribes and environmental groups, but it has faced opposition from utility and business organizations. While some have raised concerns about the impact on clean energy goals and electricity rates, others argue that the harm caused by the dams outweighs their benefits.
The U.S. government has announced plans to spend over $1 billion in the next decade to help restore salmon populations in the Pacific Northwest. The government will also explore ways to offset the benefits provided by four controversial dams on the Snake River if Congress agrees to breach them. While the Biden administration did not call for the removal of the dams, Northwest tribes and conservationists see the agreement as a roadmap for dismantling them. The Columbia River Basin, once a prolific salmon-producing river system, has seen the extinction of four salmon stocks and the listing of seven others as endangered. Dams are a major factor in the decline of salmon populations, and breaching the dams on the Snake River is seen as the best hope for their recovery. Conservation groups have been fighting for the removal of the dams for over two decades, arguing that their operation violates the Endangered Species Act and tribal treaties. The agreement includes provisions for building new clean energy projects to replace the hydropower generated by the dams and allocating funds for fish restoration and habitat improvement. The U.S. government will also conduct studies on how to replace the transportation, irrigation, and recreation provided by the dams. The agreement has drawn criticism from Republicans and utility and business groups who argue that it undermines clean energy goals and will lead to rate increases. While the agreement does not make the removal of the dams inevitable, it provides a pathway for breaching them and ensuring that treaty promises are kept.
The article is reproduced from Source link
Conservationists, US Tribes Say Salmon Deal Is Map to Breaching Dams
