[JVesquire]

Little late, but for you Pullmanites with a boat tomorrow: http://www.freethesnake.com/

[Randito]

Lets see how well salmon actually recover in the Elwha before getting too gung ho about the effectiveness of dam removal as a salmon recovery tool. There are many other challenges to salmon recovery.

[Snowbrushy]

It's an OK idea but there are the port districts of Clarkston and Lewiston. That presents big economic problems for the Inland Empire if the dams are removed. Maybe better fish ladders? http://portofclarkston.com/index.php?page=port-history A port marina/camping: http://www.portofcolumbia.org/lyons-ferry-marina-mainmenu-40

[IanB]

Thanks for the link. I signed their petition. Hard to think of any more obvious challenges to salmon recovery than walls of concrete impounding rivers. Hard to feel too put out for the "Inland Empire" (aka giant agribusiness) that's been profiting for decades on water and transportation subsidized by the federal government (aka taxpaying US citizens).

[treeswarper]

Where do I look to verify that the power put out by those dams is replaced by so called "green" power? What is that power? Those ugly wind machines? Acres of ground covered by solar panels? (both most likely also heavily subsidized by taxpayers) I vote for better designed fish ladders. Oh, and that agribusiness is where something called FOOD comes from. All those nice little packages of stuff in Whole Foods does not magically pop up in the store. Lastly, what do the Idahoians want? They are the people who will be affected. Why should Seattle people be involved at all?

[NacMacFeegle]

I'd love to join the flotilla, too bad it's such a long drive and I have no boat! The Snake River dams need to come down, the sooner the better! Salmon recovery is infinitely more important than Idaho's ability to sell grain to China at taxpayer expense.

[Randito]

The snake river dams provide an average of 1200 MW electrical generation (peak power is 3300 MW) without emitting any CO2. It's an open question how much dam removal would actually help salmon recovery, especially considering how many other dams there are downstream. I'm an old river rat and love free flowing rivers, but the proposals to remove these dams has never made much sense to me.

[NacMacFeegle]

[Randito]

[monorail]

Here's a link that addresses some of the concerns people have raised about taking out the dams: http://www.wildsalmon.org/facts-and-information/myths-and-facts-about-lower-snake-river-dam-removal.html I say bring 'em down!

[Randito]

[NacMacFeegle]

The salmon are already returning to the Elwha, the prospects for their recovery in that river are looking very hopeful indeed. Besides, there are other reasons to remove dams other than fish passage, such as improved water quality, decreased sedimentation, decreased water temperature, and less loss of water due to evaporation.

[Randito]

[MadCapLaughs]

[JVesquire]

Habitat restoration is an ideal method of recovery. Since barge traffic is becoming obsolete, I see no reason not to do this. I will miss swimming at the beach at Hood Park, however...