BPA Will Cut Spill On Snake River Dams - No Help For Salmon This Year

[hatrack]

WASHINGTON, DC, July 7, 2004 (ENS) - "The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers approved a plan on Tuesday to reduce the amount of water spilled this summer over four federal dams in the Pacific Northwest on the Columbia and Snake rivers. The summer spill over the dams helps young salmon migrate to the sea, but it cuts the output of hydroelectric power and utility executives have lobbied long and hard against the practice. In past years, summer spill continued through August 31 at the four dams.

The new plan will end spill operations at the Snake River's Bonneville dam and the Columbia River's The Dalles dam at the end of July. Spill operations at Ice Harbor and John Day dams - both on the Columbia River - will end on August 22.

Officials from the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), the federal energy wholesaler in charge of the hydroelectric projects in question, estimate the reductions will cut summer spill at the four dams some 39 percent save Northwest ratepayers some $18 million to $28 million this year.

"This action is a winner for the economy and environment of the Northwest by implementing an effective and efficient means to help salmon," said Steve Wright, BPA Administrator."

EDIT

http://forests.org/articles/reader.asp?linkid=33364

Pardon me while I go vomit.

[swag]

1. Gawd - they should just breach those 3 lower snake dams

Minimal impact on the power grid.

Morans.

[Massacure]

2. Can't they just dig a fish run to the side of the damns?

[NNadir]

3. Dams are "renewable" energy, and therefore are uniformly good for the

environment.

Please note that my sarcasm editor is NOT turned on.