Panel visit focuses on salmon, dams

A congressional panel will hear from farmers, elected officials, fishing representatives and a tribal spokesman Monday when it comes to the Inland Northwest to consider problems relating to salmon, federal dams and the Endangered Species Act.

The House Subcommittee on Water and Power will begin its hearing on “Keeping the Columbia/Snake a Working River System” at 9:30 a.m. at the Quality Inn in Clarkston.

The hearing was requested in January because of concerns by several Northwest Republican congressmen over renewed calls for removing Snake River dams to save the endangered salmon. Although the Bush administration has said it opposes such action, last week U.S. District Judge James Redden ruled that a federal agency’s plan to preserve salmon without removing the dams is inadequate.

Dams along the Snake and Columbia rivers pose a wide range of problems for salmon as they move from spawning grounds to the sea. The dams also provide irrigation, flood control, electricity and transportation routes for barges.

Under congressional rules, members of the subcommittee will hear testimony only from invited speakers, although anyone can submit written statements on the issue.

On the list of invited witnesses are: Dale Alldredge, Port of Lewiston; Steve Appel, Washington State Farm Bureau; Mark Benson, Potlach Corp.; Liz Hamilton, Northwest Sports Fishing Industry Association; Curt Koegen, International Union of Operating Engineers; Jerry Meninick, Yakama Indian Nation; Merrill Ott, Stevens County commissioner; Jean Ryckman, Franklin County PUD; and Norm Semanko, Idaho Water Users Association.