Dam Breeching

The last several years has seen the controversy over the breaching of northwest dams grow to nearly biblical proportions. The one thing both sides agree on is wanting to save the salmon. What they can’t seem to agree on is the best way to go about doing that. A few environmental groups feel that there’s a way to save the wild salmon without breaching the dams. These dams are not causing the salmon to go extinct; in fact the northwest is seeing a large salmon run this year. Studies have shown that there’s a 25 year cycle in the Pacific Ocean currents that bring nourishment and food fish to the North American coast. When these currents shift the fish runs either increase or decrease accordingly. The four dams in question provide hydroelectric power, recreation, irrigation and jobs. A breaching of the dams would hit farmers in the area the hardest of all forcing an estimated 35,000 acres of farm land to go out of production due to the astronomical cost of pump modification. If anyone thinks that wouldn’t make a significant impact on the northwest food supply they’re living in a bubble. And as everyone knows bubbles easily burst.