Spill begins for juvenile Snake River steelhead

LOWER GRANITE DAM - An annual water spill began on the Snake River to aid juvenile steelhead and salmon migration to the Pacific Ocean.

The spill operation began April 3 on the lower Snake River dams.

The purpose of the juvenile fish passage is to reduce the number that passes through turbines and cut down on passage delay at the dams. Fish travel time through the Snake River is reduced.

Specific "Flex Spill" operations at the dam are put in place by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Spilling for 2021 will again include juvenile fish passage spills for eight hours each day during times of high...