Last year, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers released a draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) – a document that purports to analyze the future of the lower Snake River waterway and its continued use as a barge transportation corridor.

In its DEIS, the Army Corps focuses on dredging as its best option for maintaining the waterborne transportation system.

Enter Save Our wild Salmon, in collaboration with the Nez Perce Tribe and a number of local organizations who are now reviewing the DEIS and the comment deadline is March 26th.

The creation of a barge transportation corridor was the main argument for building the four lower Snake River dams in the 1960s and ‘70s and it remains a main argument for keeping them. However, the cost of the dams are increasing, particulary the need for regular, harmful dredging operations and a worsening flood risk for the people and businesses of downtown Lewiston, ID.

Save Our Wild Salmon says, "this underscores the long-overdue need for a conversation in the Northwest about the costs and benefits of lower Snake River barging and the impacts on salmon and steelhead and local communities." I would have to agree.  

You can submit your comments HERE.

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