Dam Reports Reaction Pt 2
From the Ag Information Network, I’m Bob Larson. The debate is ramping up on whether or not to remove four dams on the Lower Snake River, following a pair of White House draft reports. Many argue the documents fail to consider the greater impact breaching the dams would have on the environment and the economy.
And, U.S. Representative Dan Newhouse says the only reason given for removing the dams is to protect the salmon, which have shown greater numbers in recent years …
NEWHOUSE … “With a survival rate of salmon passing through the dams of close to 98%, that does not pass the straight face test that they are the problem and that we need to remove the dams. That argument just falls flat.”
Newhouse says any argument FOR breaching the dams is disingenuous …
NEWHOUSE … “I’m literally outraged by the conclusion reached because, to me, this is a political conclusion. This is not based on science. There was a predetermined outcome that they put together what they needed in order to reach.”
The dams, Newhouse says are not the problem …
NEWHOUSE … “Regardless of whether there’s a dam in place in the river or not, the salmon are facing similar challenges up and down the West Coast. It just happens to be that the Columbia and Snake, guest what, the numbers right now look pretty good. Better than a lot of other places.”
Newhouse says there are other ways to try and help the salmon, but there has to be a lot more transparency in making a decision like this.
