AP News. (2023, December 14). Conservationists, tribes say dealing with the Biden administration is a road map to breach Snake River dams. Retrieved January 27th, from
https://apnews.com/article/salmon-tribes-snake-river-dam-energy-336a20cf02093fcdd725cb3047af8f29
The US government has recently claimed that they want to put forth over 1 billion dollars over the next ten years in an attempt to recover some of the depleted populations of Salmon that are in and around the Pacific Northwest as well as how to offset the benefits of the dams on the Snake River. The Biden administration as well as tribes and conservationists are now working together to be able to find a fair and equal solution to this problem that they are having with the lack of salmon. A new agreement has been made. The representative of Washington feels concerned that they will not have the proper energy, irrigation, or other benefits and that this was a decision made without them being involved. Under the agreement, the US will create and build more projects that will be able to produce clean energy that is replacing the dams that were built. It also says that additional water will be provided to counteract the issue. 300 million dollars is being spent to restore the fish.
This article talks about issues that are affecting the wildlife around these. This is related to environmental science because we have also before talked about how these dams have an effect on the sea animals around them. For example, Lonely Larry the sock-eyed salmon. He was all by himself because of these dams that had been built and had lost the rest of his family. The issue with this is the loss of necessary energy from these dams and whether that energy will be able to be replaced by other projects. But on top of that too, the tribes are worried that if they are not taken down then the fish will not be able to live like they were once able to.
I agree with the text expressed by conservationists and tribes regarding the agreement with the Biden administration being seen as a road map to breach the Snake River dams. The decline of salmon populations in the Pacific Northwest is a significant environmental issue, and the dams have been identified as a major factor contributing to their decline. Breaching the dams could provide the fish with access to vital spawning grounds and help in their recovery.
In your opinion, what are the potential long-term benefits and challenges associated with breaching the Snake River dams in terms of salmon recovery and the overall ecosystem health in the Pacific Northwest?
The agreement to create more projects for clean energy production and to provide additional water to mitigate the effects on salmon populations is promising. Still, it’s essential to carefully consider the trade-offs and ensure that the needs of all stakeholders, including local communities and Indigenous tribes, are adequately addressed. What do you think we can to to address concerns of local communities and Indigenous tribes be effectively incorporated into decision-making processes to ensure that their voices are heard and respected?