OLYMPIA – A new letter from Gov. Jay Inslee says Congress ought to get out of the way of a federal judge contemplating dam-breaching on the Snake River – an appalling position that threatens the Washington economy and the Northwest power grid, says Sen. Tim Sheldon, D-Potlatch.  Inslee’s letter, released this week, urges Congress to reject a bill that would prevent judicial interference with the operation of the Snake River dams.  “The governor clearly is siding with environmental groups and the tiny minority of people who think it would be a good idea to tear down the Snake River dams for the sake of fish,” Sheldon said. “Apparently he hasn’t gotten the message about the importance of these dams to the Washington economy, to power production, and the clean air we enjoy in the Pacific Northwest.  “We don’t need to do it to save the salmon and steelhead runs. We’ve seen a huge rebound over the last 10 years. We expect extremism in this debate, but when a person in a position of authority takes an irresponsible position, the nicest thing we can call it is unfathomable.”  H.R. 3144, sponsored by U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., and supported by members of both parties, is prompted by an environmental review being conducted by the agencies responsible for managing federal dams on the Snake and Columbia rivers. A federal judge in Portland has sided with environmental organizations, ordering the agencies to consider dam removal as a way to improve fish runs — and to test massive spills during migration season in the meantime.  The bill before the U.S. House of Representatives would pre-empt any order that would restrict power production or impede navigation on the Snake River. Structural modifications, actions, studies or engineering plans would be prohibited unless authorized by Congress.  In his letter to Congress, Inslee objects that the bill would prevent any disruption “even by a small amount. Sheldon sponsored a memorial in the state Senate this year urging Congress to pass such a bill. SJM 8004 passed the Senate 26-23, but the state House, dominated by urban Democrats, refused to consider it. Sheldon notes that the four Snake River dams contribute 5 percent of the Pacific Northwest’s power – the equivalent of three coal-fired power plants – and permit irrigation, recreation and barge traffic as far as Lewiston, Idaho. He also observes that federal Judge Michael Simon is not considering other major factors affecting fish populations – harvests, natural predators and ocean conditions that cannot be controlled.  “This issue needs to be decided at the highest level,” Sheldon said. “You can’t manage a hydro system this big and this important from the bench. Congress passed the laws that protect endangered species, and it paid for the dams in the first place. It is in the best position to decide whether we take a balanced view, or submit to environmental overkill.  You’d think a governor so concerned with our carbon footprint would be interested in preserving clean power in the Pacific Northwest. There really is no middle ground here, and he ought to know better. What’s he saying? Dam breaching is OK if we just take a little from the top?”

 

The court disagreed and found including 2014 BiOp operations in the Program was proper.  The panel also supported the Council’s decision to not study Snake Dam removal as requested by the Nez Perce tribe noting the Council had already analyzed (and rejected) that proposal in its 2010 plan:  “This (2010) analysis concluded that removing these dams would be economically infeasible, which is a cognizable reason under the Power Act for rejecting a recommendation”.

 

And, on (Oregon’s) proposal to spill more the court said:  “As to the state of Oregon and Nez Perce Tribe’s proposal regarding experimental dam spill, the Program included extensive discussion about why this recommendation was rejected due to its methodological problems and its potential for causing a violation of the Clean Water Act by increasing the quantities of dissolved gas in the river, both of which are cognizable reasons under the Power Act for rejecting a recommendation.”  

 

This win establishes some good case law that should be helpful down the road in discouraging these types of suits.  I’ve also attached, for your enjoyment, a “winning” picture you can pin on your office door --  as I will!

 

Terry Flores, Executive Director

Northwest RiverPartners

May 1, 2017, Washington Times.

U.S. hydropower: Room to grow in renewable energy

production and water storage.

Hydropower: the only 24/7 renewable resource.

Thanks Rep, Dan Newhouse, and also Dave and Pat.

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/may/1/us-hydropower-room-to-grow-in-renewable-energy-pro/

http://www.newsworks.org/index.php/thepulse/item/102779-this-washington-state-dam-is-trying-to-be-fish-friendly

March 21, 2017.  The Spokesman-Review.

PBS TV series documents ' Way of the Columbia'.

http://www.spokesman.com/blogs/outdoors/2017/mar/21/pbs-tv-series-documents-way-columbia/

 In 1992, one lone Sockeye Salmon returned to Redfish Lake, “Lonesome Lary.” Explore the efforts undertaken by the Idaho Fish and Game…

    KSPS TV has started a new 13 episode series on PBS called " Way of the Columbia ". This started April 1st at 5 PM on KSPS, it is my understanding they will air one episode a week on Saturday at 5pm.  The first one is called " Not so Lonesome, Redfish lake episode " and aired April 1, 2017. It is also available on the following Youtube link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qt1aNA8uf1A.

     My only issue with the 1st episode is that there is no reference to Idaho Department of Fish and Game and their on going continuous practice of poisoning Salmon in the 50's, 60's, 70's, 80's and 90's.  This was done to try and turn the lakes and streams into Pristine trout fishing areas for tourism and the related economics of the sport trout fishing economy for these areas.  This required the killing of the Salmon as they eat trout and took habitant and were considered of little value at the time. For more information about this, go to:

https://sites.google.com/site/betasaveourdams/lonesome-larry

Mar 16, 2017.

    For the record, Columbia river and Snake river dams and their related reservoir's DO NOT create greenhouse gases as many have claimed and they DO NOT have a carbon footprint.

Columbia and Snake River Reservoirs Not Associated with High Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Council finds the region's federal hydrosystem unlikely to emit high levels of methane gas

NWCOUNCIL.ORG

     Many of you have been asking me were are we headed now. Basically, the "Judge has requested spill for fish" which if you know anything about spilling water and nitrogen levels, this is the kiss of death for fish. I have been setting back and letting this play out with the current Perverted Legal system we have and also the new Administration, and I do not believe they are one and the same. From my perceptive this is a an opportunity to take a deep breath and to productively play out the science and facts as we know it. Easy to say, hard to do. I want to thank everyone that has taken the time to give feedback and testimony to this issue. " Yess the squeaky wheel does get the grease and with your continued support and commitment we will roll the wheels in the right direction.

March 27,2017, Tri-Cities Hearld.

Judge: More water for fish, less for power from

Columbia, Snake dams.

July 2, 2017.

     In May of last year U.S. District Judge Michael Simon requested the agencies to revue all reasonable options for achieving the goals of the hydro-system, " in order to minimize the system's negative impacts ". The first step in this three-year review process are 15 public "scoping" meetings across the region-- also called NEPA meetings. (NEPA) - National Environmental Policy Act.