12/27/06 New Congress, dam removal?

There have been many environmental groups who have called for the removal of four dams on the lower Snake River to aid in salmon recovery. SEMANKO "But at this point the prospects for dam removal on a Congressional level are dim." That's Norm Semanko of the Idaho Water Users Association. He says only the Congress can order the removal of the dams, something the House and Senate have refused to do to this point. In just a few days when the Democrats take control of both houses Semanko says it's entirely possible that legislation will be introduced once again to call for the removal of the four dams. SEMANKO "They have run legislation in the past but they haven't had anywhere near enough support to get it through but they may be emboldened by the new leadership in the House and the Senate to try to pursue that. Certainly with this president in place that would be a vain effort because the President has said that he is not in support of removing the dams." 2008 brings another election, Presidential in addition to Congressional. While all of that goes on a federal judge in Portland is waiting for the rewrite of the biological opinion, the federal management plan for the river and reservoir operations. Semanko says it appears that Idaho will still follow the current plan through the 2007 irrigation season while the bi-op undergoes revision. Today's Idaho Ag News Bill Scott