Snake River dams

Ice Harbor Dam on the Lower Snake River holds back Lake Sacajawea, the source of irrigation water for 47,000 acres of farmland.

 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

The secret package of commitments the U.S. government made to the plaintiffs suing over management of the lower Snake River dams would put dam breaching advocates in “a new position of power” regarding the future of the Columbia-Snake river system, Pacific Northwest agriculture stakeholders say.

The government and plaintiffs are expected to present their proposed package in court Dec. 15. Several members of Congress leaked the package, which was negotiated in secret and excluded agricultural and transportation interests.

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