(PORTLAND, OR) – The Pacific Northwest Waterways Association
(PNWA) is weighing in on the Lower Snake River Dams Stakeholder Process draft
report commissioned by the Washington State Governor’s Office, funded by the State
Legislature, and made available today for public review and comment. This dam
breaching report was one of the more controversial recommendations from the
Southern Resident Killer Whale Task Force and did not have unanimous support
from the group.
“This draft report on the Lower Snake River Dams Stakeholder
Process was produced with Washington taxpayer funding, which could have gone
toward activities that directly benefit salmon and orcas. While we appreciate
the diligence of the consultants leading this process in reaching out to PNWA
members and other stakeholders, the product that was commissioned by the State
is essentially a status report of river operations followed by a survey of opinions
– not science-based salmon recovery,” said Kristin Meira, executive director
for PNWA.
“Federal agencies are already studying salmon and the river
system and will have a draft report for the region to review in February. This
Columbia River System Operations Environmental Impact Statement is based in
science, complies with National Environmental Policy Act, and includes
opportunities for citizen review as well as significant collaboration with
cooperating agencies like Northwest tribes and states – including the State of
Washington,” said Meira. “The CRSO EIS will include an evaluation of the Snake
River dams, including an economic impact analysis with stakeholder input.”
As conversations continue in the region and the federal
study process moves forward, PNWA's members will continue to support clean
renewable hydropower, efficient barge transportation, and science-based salmon
recovery.
Did you know?
Each Snake River dam has a navigation lock that allows cargo
to move by water. The Snake River has had remarkably stable tonnage levels in
the past 10 years. In 2017 alone, over 3.5 million tons of cargo were barged on
the Snake River. It would have taken over 35,140 rail cars to carry this cargo,
or over 135,000 semi-trucks. The Snake River is particularly important to our
Northwest wheat farmers. The Snake River dams make it possible for nearly 10%
of all U.S. wheat exports to move in the safest, lowest emission type of cargo
transportation – barging.
Hydropower is a reliable, renewable domestic power source
that produces no greenhouse gas emissions and provides nearly 60% of our
region's electricity. The Snake River dams are key contributors to the
Northwest energy profile and make it possible for intermittent renewables like
wind and solar to integrate into our system. The lower Snake River dams are
some of the most reliable and lowest-cost electricity sources of the 31 federal
dams from which the Bonneville Power Administration markets power.
Salmon recovery in the Pacific Northwest is a collaborative
effort by federal and state agencies, tribes, utilities, and countless other
entities. Together we all work to address the many ways a salmon's life cycle
can be affected by humans: Hydropower, hatcheries, habitat, and harvest. Ocean
conditions also play a major role in salmon health, in addition to significant
impact from predators like birds, sea lions, and other fish. Major improvements
have been made in fish ladders, dam design, optimized river flow and habitat
restoration, resulting in steady improvements to salmon runs. Juvenile fish survival
rates past each of the eight federal dams are now between 95 and 98 percent.
The Pacific Northwest Waterways Association is a non-profit
trade association of ports, businesses, public agencies and individuals who
support navigation, energy, trade and economic development throughout the
Pacific Northwest.
