Stand for salmon

Inland Power’s most recent newsletter has an article entitled “Federal study confirms necessity of dams.”

I read the Columbia River Systems Operations Draft of the Environmental Impact Statement, and I also listened to the call-in format that was placed in lieu of public meetings that were canceled because of the coronavirus.

The draft clearly stated that removing the four dams was definitely the best alternative for salmon. Yes, this would cause some adverse impacts but certainly nothing that couldn’t be overcome. After all, we are people that put a man on the moon. Surely, we can come up with a river system that’s good for everyone, including salmon and orcas!

Within the draft there were several objectives, seemingly of equal weight. However, this is misleading. The only objective the Bonneville Power Administration, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Bureau of Reclamation gives priority to is producing the least-expensive electricity.

We can have power and salmon and a free-flowing river. It just depends on what we give priority to. Listening to the amazingly well informed members of the public who called in to express their opinion, the overwhelming majority supported dam removal. Power company employees supported the status quo with a bit more spill. Whose bread is being buttered?

What are our priorities? It’s up to us and our elected leaders to decide, not the federal agencies.

Stand for salmon (they only have the river — we have alternatives).

Carol Colpitts

Deer Park