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Dams Along the Snake River By Jason Smith, Allegra Abramo, Shira Bieler, Jeff Payne, Mike Miller Lower Snake Questions: Who are the stakeholders? What rights and interests do they have? What role does each stakeholder play in the region? What is the most economically viable alternative? What is the ethical alternative? The Current System The Lower Snake River Dams Ice Harbor Lower Monumental Little Goose Lower Granite The Columbia River Basin Ice Harbor Dam River Mile 9.7 Completed 1962, 1976 Operate Pool 437-440 Purpose Power, Nav. Other Fish, Rec. Res:Sacajawea Length 2822 ft. N. Abute. 624 ft. Lower Monumental Dam River Mile 41.6 Completed 1969, 1981 Operate Pool 537-540 Purpose Power, Nav. Other Fish, Rec. Res:L Herbert G West Length 3791ft. S. Abute. 1075 ft. Little Goose Dam River Mile 70.3 Completed 1970, 1978 Operate Pool 633-638 Purpose: Power, Nav Other: Fish, Rec. Res: Lake Bryant Length 2655 ft. N. Abute. 879 Lower Granite Dam River Mile 107.5 Completed 1975, 1978 Operate Pool 733-738 Purpose: Power, Nav. Other: flood, rec., fish Res.: Lower Granite L Length 3200 ft. North Abute. 1435 ft. The Fish Historic runs of 10-16 million fish are down by 90%. 75-80% Remaining fish are from hatcheries. 4 Evolutionarily Significant Units (ESU) listed under ESA (13 total in CRB). Dams and Fish Dams kill large numbers of juveniles passing over or through them. Obstruct return of spawning adults. Make water too warm, too slow, and reduce essential habitat (gravel and woody debris). Many improvements have been made to dams, but fish numbers continue to decline. NMFS says science is still out on whether removal is necessary--will try other strategies for another 10 years. Do Fish Have Rights? ESA: species must be considered but allows for balancing of human economic interests. Do fish have intrinsic value and right to continued existence, no matter what the costs to humans? The Tribes Industrial interests The Regional Economy 10 PNW smelters Annual income of ~$200 million Consumption of 3,145MW at Capacity The Labor Force Subsidized? Regional Economics Local significance Most smelters account for < 1% of local employment Klickitat and Wasco employment > 8% Regionally insignificant Direct employment – 10,000 Indirect employment – 40,000 0.65% of Employment PNW Previous need for Aluminum Aluminum wasn’t internationally competitive Nearby stores of bauxite in Beautiful British Columbia with oversized electrical infrastructure Supportive industry: Boeing? Future of industry in the PNW Aluminum is now International Globalized markets Newer smelting technology Boeing bailed Chicago office detaches labor questions Japanese bidding for wing manufacture Assembly plant will remain, aluminum manufacturing may leave Agriculture The snake dams benefit agricultural interests in two ways: Most importantly by providing low cost transportation via barges And to a lesser degree by providing irrigation to 13 large farming operations Agriculture in the Modern World Regardless of what happens to the dams farmers face an uncertain future due factors such as: Increasing consolidation among farms Increased competition due to globalization Depressed wheat prices Agricultural and Dams Ethical Issues Turning rangeland into productive farmland via irrigation Subsidizing farms – at what cost? A way of life was created, now it is threatened Municipal Impacts Four Municipalities Burbank Asotin Clarkston Lewiston Population 36,500 14 wells Municipal Impacts Cont. Assume 70% - $100,000 Energy cost 50-foot loss of water table 100 gpdpc $.10 / kilowatt-hour 90% efficiency COST 80 cents per person per year Navigational Impacts 8 Dams 4 Snake Navigational Impacts Cont. Lewiston world’s most inland port 465 mi. Ocean to Portland/Vancouver 106 miles Dredge to 40-foot depth Portland to Lewiston 359 miles Minimum 14-foot depth Navigational Impacts Cont. Cargo 17 million tons enter from ocean Agricultural harvest Federal Government - $43 million Navigational Impacts Cont. Transportation Improvements Rail and Roadway - To Tri Cities $260 million 75/25 split $200 million Grain Train 1995 - 29 cars 1998 - additional 36 cars Navigational Impacts Cont. Breach Dams Sediment load Lower Granite and Little Goose first Lower Monumental and Ice Harbor second Alternative Actions Status Quo Take them out Phase them out Terrorist attack: ELF Advised Action & Effects Remove the dams Winners: Tribes Fish Recreation Some industries & municipalities Losers: USACE Agriculture Some industries & municipalities