On the other hand, Dr. Conca also reports that as a result of a recent ruling by a federal judge, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) and the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) are once again discussing the radical step of taking out four hydroelectric dams on the Lower Snake River in Washington State in an attempt to help salmon runs on the Columbia River system. These four dams include Ice Harbor, Lower Monumental, Little Goose and Lower Granite Dams. These dams were built for navigation of barge and various river traffic, for low-carbon hydroelectric power, for irrigation and for flood control. About 300 people congregated in Pasco, Washington with representatives of these three agencies to discuss the possibility, and the consequences, of removing these four dams.
Many more meetings around the Pacific Northwest have occurred, or will occur, before January 17, 2017, after which these agencies will analyze the comments and develop a reasonable range of alternatives for long-term dam operations. The range of alternatives will be formally analyzed in an Environmental Impact Statement that is expected to be completed in 2021. It will take several years to review and decide upon a course of action.
Although no one really knows how long and how costly it would be if breaching these dams is selected, based on smaller dam removals it will take about 5 years each to plan, breach and decommission the four dams, and re-establish the natural flow of the river. And cost over a billion dollars.
The original URL: https://www.forbes.com/sites/jamesconca/2016/11/29/will-removing-large-dams-on-the-snake-river-help-salmon/#43b46445155b
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