Science Shows Dams And Salmon Can Coexist, Newhouse Says

Many in the environmental community say for the Chinook salmon to survive, the four lower Snake River dams must be removed. However the farming community is quick to point out the issue is not nearly a black and white one, saying there are several factors impacting the number of salmon that return to the Snake each year, including pollution in the Pacific Ocean, predatory species like sea lions, and much more.

As the debate rages on, NOAA reported spring returns on the Snake River were up in 2021, marking back-to-back years of a population increase. Dan Newhouse chair of the Congressional Western Caucus says with 29,634 Spring Chinook passing through Lower Granite this year, the new is very encouraging.

“It really is. We saw an increase of Spring Chinook Returns of 27% over last year and I think, if I recall, it was 55% over the year before that.”

Newhouse says two good years is a trend that people should recognize, and acknowledge that progress is being made.

“Particularly, as we’re engaged in this debate now as to the future of the hydroelectric system, the dams on the Snake and the Columbia Rivers and the arguments that are being made as it relates to the salmon migration. This really does illustrate clearly that we can have dams and salmon, that they can coexist.”

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