One week left for comment period on Army Corps’ Snake River dredging plan

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 .