What if ... A look at the fallout if the lower Snake River dams are demolished

Final authority to breach the four lower Snake River dams remains with the 535 members of Congress.

But agricultural stakeholders, tribes and environmental groups agree on one thing: The Columbia Basin Restoration Initiative recently signed by the Biden administration, four Northwest tribes and the states of Oregon and Washington is a pathway to breaching the dams.

Snake River dam removal — The four lower Snake River dams.

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Amid a battle over Snake River dams, a look at how the salmon are doing

The vast majority of salmon are getting up, over, around and through the four lower Snake River dams even as legal challenges and political battles swirl around them, according to the federal agency in charge of monitoring fish health.

MW GOOD Ice Harbor Dam IH-013.jpg — The site of the Ice Harbor Dam in August 1955. Work on the dam began in 1956 an began generating power in 1961. It was the first of four dams built on the lower Snake River.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

0405_CP_MW Brian Brooks mug — Brian Brooks

0405_CP_MW Bill Arthur mug — Bill Arthur

Irrigator association's study measures dam breaching disruption

The state and Bonneville Power Administration could compensate irrigators up to about $760 million during disruption caused by breaching all four lower Snake River dams and replacing their irrigation benefits, according to a new study from the Columbia-Snake River Irrigators Association.

Judge grants Snake River dam litigation stay through 2028

U.S. District Court Judge Michael Simon has approved the memorandum of understanding between the Biden administration and plaintiffs in a lawsuit over Snake River dam operations, staying the lawsuit through December 2028, with the possibility of another five year extension.

WGC MW Ice-Harbor-Dam-Tour_Lori J Maricle_10.jpg (copy) (copy) — The Ice Harbor Lock is 675 feet long and 86 feet wide, with a minimum depth of 16 feet. It can accommodate a tugboat pushing up to four barges. Proponents of the dams say the use of barges on the Snake and Columbia rivers is far more efficient than using trucks or railroad.
Washington Grain Commission

1103_CP_MW Scott Corbitt courtesy mug — Scott Corbitt

BEHEMOTH BLADES: Nearly the length of a football field, these wind turbine parts are hard to move

As the blades on windmills — three per turbine — get larger to generate more power, industry leaders say barging on the Columbia-Snake river system will become more important to move them inland to their final destination.

0405_CP_MW John Rosenau mug — John Rosenau

MW LoMo Lock and Dam.jpg — Lower Monumental Lock and Dam on the lower Snake River.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Walla Walla District

MW Little Goose Lock and Dam.jpg — Little Goose Lock and Dam on the lower Snake River.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Walla Walla District

MW Ice Harbor Lock and Dam.jpg — Ice Harbor Lock and Dam on the lower Snake River.
US Army Corps of Engineers, Walla Walla District

MW GOOD Ice Harbor site IH-011.jpg — The site of the Ice Harbor Dam in August 1955. Work on the dam began in 1956, and it began generating power in 1961. It was the first of four dams built on the lower Snake River.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Biden administration, tribes: Dam breaching on table 'as soon as practical'

U.S. and tribal leaders say the deal forged between the federal goverment and plaintiffs in a long-running lawsuit puts breaching of the lower Snake River dams "on the table when practical."