by: Steve Urich
One of the most miraculous migrations ever recorded was the salmon migration along the Columbia River Basin before dams were present. This migration used to reach into the upper most reaches of the Columbia River and its tributaries. Currently, these fish rarely make it back to their birth places. The main decrease in Salmon population is thought to be due to four lower Snake River dams; upstream from where the Snake River meets up with the Columbia River on its route out to sea. The Bush administration began devising a plan to tear down the dams along the lower Snake River (which are only used for barge traffic, and aren’t as beneficial as other dams on the Columbia and tributaries), but decided to hold off on action. Since Obama has been in office, he has been pressed to re-assess the situation. Sadly, on September 14 of this year, Obama has only changed the rejected Bush plan minimally. Many advocates want the Salmon population to flourish again, and hope that the northwest’s ‘Local Icon’ can manage its way up to its home, like Red Fish Lake in Idaho. Most people not from the Northwest don’t understand that life revolves around this fish. Most advocates for policy plans are from the northwest or from the areas the fish contribute to. Does the locality to the problem have affect on action taken? Should President Obama re-assess this situation, and fix the declining Salmon population in a more scientific manor; couldn’t this also create new jobs? If the cleaning out of the four lower Snake River dams isn’t the correct answer what might be another solution?
Interesting video on life around salmon: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iErooJ4lE3E
13 comments:
This ties in well with Chapter 8 of the B&W book. It seems that the Fed has become to bloated, unresponsive, and over-bureaucratic to respond to smaller scale regional problems. They certainly did a poor job responding to Hurricane Katrina, and it seems they're doing a similarly poor job here. Perhaps a special purpose district could be created in order to address the issue of dams&salmon in the Columbia/Snake river system.
Though dams do have some benefits, the decreased salmon population is one of their most negative effects. The Pacific Northwest has seen one of the world's largest salmon crashes in recent years, but from what I hear, the residents aren't seethingly angry. I used to work in the salmon industry in Alaska, and up there, fishing is life. Not just recreationally, but it is one of the largest resources in the state, and a significant portion of the Alaskan economy. There are thousands of jobs in the fishing industry, and though million of salmon are harvested anually, the proper oversight means sustainable harvesting, which means the people get money, and the salmon get a healthy population. Tearing down the dams could be a wise move for Obama, but only if correct regulation in the salmon industry follows suit.
The obvious reasons for building dams may seem to have a very important role. However, it seems that every time humans try to interrupt the natural process it has more negative effects.
I grew up in Sun Valley, Idaho and I have spent almost every summer weekend up north at Redfish Lake playing in the waters and hiking in the mountains nearby. I remember a long time ago asking my parents why it was called "Redfish" Lake and them telling me it was because there were once so many salmon in the lake it was actually red in color. Though I can understand why these fish may have dropped in numbers due to recreation and motor boats in the lake, there are other small lakes nearby, such as "Little Redfish" that have hardly any salmon either and prohibit fishing or any kind of boats. It concerns me that a species so populous at a time could drop so radically to one so sparse. For, 2.5 million wild Salmon once populated the waterways of Idaho's Snake River Basin and now every species of salmon is listed as threatened or endangered. Though efforts to restore the population in the Snake and Columbia Rivers and their partner lakes continue to take effect, I feel additional measures should be taken and now. Obviously what were doing now isn't working, because numbers are still dropping and yet Obama has renewed the dam-removal option, no new actions for salmon preservation have really been made. We must take greater efforts to improve water flow around dams, because though I agree removing a dam/dams completely is a bit drastic, it may be our only option/solution to saving the salmon in the northwest.
It would be interesting to know the value amount lost from the significant decrease in Salmon populations and decline in fishing related profits vs. the profit made from the use of these dams either from hydro-power plants of shipping. I could the loss of GDP from activities related to the Salmon industry being larger than the gain from utilizing these waterways via dams.
its important to remember that these four dams out of all other dams along the Columbia/Snake River system create the least amount of hydroelectric power and are mainly used for barge traffic. I'm not sure how much money is earned through the moving of product but I'm sure there is another way to move the product...trains, trucks, air, etc.
Is there any way to build onto the dam to allow the salmon to go through? Salmon populations are declining in multiple locations due to habitat fragmentation and if the dams benefits are minimal I strongly believe they should be removed
Is there a state wildlife department that locals could act through? I don't really understand why this issue needs to be dealt with at the national level. Who built the dams, the state or the fed? There must be a number of other organisms affected by these dams as well.
If the dams for barge traffic were removed how would the product that the barges are moving be moved? Are there adequate roadways for trucking?
I am wondering how costly it will be to remove the dams, how much energy production will be lost, and how much more energy will be used for transportation by trucks versus the barges? I do believe the salmon need to continue their natural process of spawning, but is there a better way than just getting rid of these dams? Could they possibly make the ramps for salmon better?
I think this problem should be looked at again by the President. Also, disease is an important factor in this case as well. There are many salmon farms at the bases of these rivers and the parasites that these fish get are often transferred to the young salmon who are returning from the spawning grounds to the sea. There are many causes to the decline of the population, and all of them should be considered when trying to save the species.
Couldn't something be done about the dams on the state level? It seems like this would not be a top priority of Obama and more could be done if states elected to remove the dams. It's very sad to see a decline in natural salmon populations with the rise of farmed fish.
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