McMorris Rodgers leads dam-breaching opposition

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-5th District, is opposing the White House Council on Environmental Quality look at breaching Snake River dams.

She joined in sending the letters by Senators James Risch, R-Idaho, Steve Daines, R-Mont., and Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, as well as Reps. Jaime Herrera Beutler, R-3rd District, Dan Newhouse, R-4th District, Russ Fulcher, D-Idaho, and Cliff Bentz, R-Ore.

A series of letters from them ask the council for answers on stakeholder engagement and asks federal agencies that have a stake in Lower Snake River dam operations about their role in the council’s process.

The letters call into question the council’s focus on the four species of fish passing through the Lower Snake River Dams, where more than 13 species are considered threatened or endangered in the Columbia River Basin.

They emphasize the lengthy and cooperative process undergone during the Columbia River System Operations National Environmental Policy Act Process and Biological Opinion.

“As you know, the Federal Columbia River Power System comprises 31 hydroelectric projects in the Columbia River Basin and provides approximately one-third of the electricity used in the Pacific Northwest, as well as critical flood risk management, irrigation, and navigation benefits,” a letter states.

“The Lower Snake River Dams provide (Bonneville Power Administration) with capacity to meet peak energy demand loads. The four dams generate approximately 1,000 megawatts of power on average annually, with the capacity for generating over 3,000 megawatts of power.

“The need for this capacity was demonstrated during severe cold and heat events last year. In 2021, BPA issued assessments indicating the Lower Snake River Dams prevented rolling blackouts during the deep freeze and severe heat events in the Pacific Northwest ...

“The Lower Snake River Dams are not only critical to grid reliability in the Pacific Northwest, through fish passage adaptations, they achieve 96% passage survival for juvenile yearling Chinook salmon and steelhead smolts at each dam.”

The letters were sent to President Joe Biden, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Department of Transportation, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Department of State, U.S. Department of Energy, and Bonneville Power Administration.

Meanwhile, Tri-Cities area leaders gathered Tuesday, March 22, for a forum on efforts to keep Columbia and Snake River dams intact.

Several people attended that event.