Snake River Dams

A federal judge wants a new plan for restoring fish runs on the Lower Snake River prepared by 2018, and has suggested that breaching four dams on that stretch of the river should be at least considered. Public meetings about the dams begin on Monday.

Section:Gallery

Mon., Oct. 24, 2016

The Lower Granite Dam on the Snake River west of Clarkston, Washington, is one of several such impediments to migrating salmon and steelhead.

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The elevators at Almota, a grain port on the Snake River in Washington, sit a few miles west of the Lower Granite Dam.

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The Lower Granite Dam west of Clarkston, Washington, was approved by Congress in 1965 and opened in 1975, providing a long-sought barge route from Portland to the Port of Lewiston.

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A salmon moves through the fish ladder at the Lower Granite Dam, which began operations in 1975. It is one of four dams on the Snake River in Washington.

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Steelhead, top, and chinook salmon move through the fish ladder, visible through the visitor center viewing window, at the Lower Granite Dam.

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The Lower Granite Dam, west of Clarkston, Washington, is an impediment to migrating salmon and steelhead on the Snake River.

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An aged chinook salmon, below, and a variety of other, smaller fish move through the fish ladder at the Lower Granite Dam. The dam, which began operations in 1975, is one of four dams on the Snake River in Washington.

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Fishermen toss their lines in the Snake River above the Lower Granite Dam on Wednesday. Salmon are swarming in the waters above the dam, but fishermen can only keep hatchery fish, shown by clipped adipose fins.

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A juvenile chinook salmon moves through the fish ladder at the Lower Granite Dam on Wednesday.

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A spiral flume built along the Snake River awaits connection to the Lower Granite Dam. The open flume will take the place of a pipe, which takes juvenile salmon from the dam down to a loading dock, where barges will load and carry them through the other three dams on the river to increase their odds of survival on their way to the sea.

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An open flume, being built atop this pipe, will gather and funnel newly-spawned salmon from the top of the Lower Granite Dam to improve the process of moving the young fish to barges waiting to move them past the other dams on the river. The flume will take the place of the pipe.

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The fish ladder at Lower Granite Dam on the Snake River has impediments to simulate flowing water, but fish are able to swim up it relatively easily without jumping from pool to pool. The rushing water naturally attracts migrating fish.

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A young chinook salmon moves through the fish ladder at the Lower Granite Dam.

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A hatchery salmon, indicated by a clipped fin, is netted by fishermen above the Lower Granite Dam on Wednesday. Fisherman looking for steelhead and hatchery salmon often catch wild salmon, which they release.

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A young chinook salmon moves through the fish ladder at the Lower Granite Dam.

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As part of new work on the Lower Granite Juvenile Bypass System, the juvenile collection channel inside the dam will be widened. Orifices inside the dam, through which juvenile fish travel, also will be enlarged. Both improvements will help juvenile fish migrate downstream.

Us Army Corps Of Engineers Illustration
This illustration shows Lower Granite Dam at left, a new elevated transportation flume in the upper middle, and the existing juvenile fish facility at right. The new elevated flume will lead fish to the downstream facility.

U.S. Army Corps Of Engineers Illustration
A rainbow shines in the cascading water at Ice Harbor Dam on the Snake River.

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This Oct. 24, 2006, file photo shows the Ice Harbor dam on the Snake River in Pasco, Washington.

Jackie Johnston Associated Press
Little Goose Dam 25 miles north of Dayton, Washington, on the Snake River.

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