Richland, Wash. – On Monday, Eastern Washington Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA-05) took a trip to the Tri-Cities to trip Ice Harbor Dam with Representatives Dan Newhouse (WA-04), Mike Collins (GA-10), and Cliff Bentz (OR-02).
Ice Harbor is among the 4 Lower Snake River dams that assisted change Eastern and Central Washington from a dry, barren sagebrush to among the most efficient farming areas worldwide. Together, these dams create over 1,000 megawatts usually, which suffices to power over 800,000 houses.
During their trip, the legislators saw the numerous financial investments in ingenious innovation that has actually made this dam almost transparent to fish, consisting of 2 fish ladders, a detachable spillway, and a bypass center that help salmon to move the river. Click here to view Cathy’s remarks at journalism conference after the trip.
Excerpts and highlights are listed below.
“This dam is among the 4 Lower Snake River dams that belongs to the whipping heart of our area – the Columbia Snake River System. It changed this area that was dry, barren sagebrush into among the most efficient farming areas worldwide.
“It makes it possible for farmers here in Eastern Washington to send their items – wheat, apples, potatoes – all throughout America and to nations worldwide.
“It has actually reinforced our energy grid, decreased energy expenses for our households and businesses – we have a few of the most affordable energy expenses in the nation – all while decreasing carbon emissions.
“Over the years, we’ve bought fish ladders, fish slides, and enhanced innovation of our turbines. Ice Harbor has not simply one however 2 fish ladders, a spillway, and a bypass center to help salmon move the river – and these efforts are working.
“It’s time that we take the target off the dams and move the discussion towards getting outcomes.
“While we’re at it, we require to get Governor Inslee to stop disposing hazardous waste into the Puget Sound – and let’s get some fish passage at Hells Canyon Dam.
“Together, I know that we can get to where we need to be. But first we need to accept that the dams aren’t the problem, and breaching the dams is not the solution.”
Cathy and her associates then took a trip to Richland High School where the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries hosted a hearing entitled, “The Northwest at Risk: The Environmentalist’s Effort to Destroy Navigation, Transportation, and Access to Reliable Power.”
This hearing concentrated on the advantages the Lower Snake River dams offer to Eastern Washington and the whole Pacific Northwest, consisting of watering, navigation, flood control, and access to trustworthy and budget-friendly hydropower. The following witnesses offered statement and addressed concerns:
- Jennifer Quan, West Coast Regional Administrator for National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
- John Hairston, Administrator and CEO for Bonneville Power Administration
- Beth Coffey, Director of Programs for theNorthwestern Division of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
- Scott Corbitt, General Manager for the Port of Lewiston
- Rick Dunn, General Manager for Benton Public Utility District
- Michelle Hennings, Executive Director for Washington Association of Wheat Growers
- Alex McGregor, Chairman of the Board of Directors for The McGregor Company
- Todd Myers, Environmental Director for the Washington Policy Center
- David Welch, President and Founder of Kintama Research Services
Click here to view Cathy’s opening remarks. You can likewise view the complete hearing here.
Below are Cathy’s remarks as gotten ready for shipment:
REGIONAL VOICES MATTER
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. It is good to be here on the ground discussing the Lower Snake River dams with individuals whose incomes depend upon them.
Each and everyone on this panel has a story to outline the advantages of the Lower Snake River dams. They and the groups they represent need to become part of any dispute over the future of our river system.
Unfortunately, these discussions are already taking place at the greatest levels of federal government, consisting of President Biden, and I am worried the voices of everybody here are not being heard.
Today, your voices will be heard loud and clear.
ENERGY & FOOD SECURITY
Today has to do with realities.
The Lower Snake River Dams have the capability to create 3,000 megawatts of trustworthy, tidy electrical power to power our houses and businesses.
Without them, we remain in huge difficulty.
Last September, California experienced an energy crisis. Governor Newsom pled homeowners to stop utilizing cooling and switch off the lights.
With blackouts impending, our dams created 16,000 megawatt hours of energy that we offered to California to avoid a disaster.
They likewise pertained to the rescue when Chief Joseph Dam stopped working throughout a deep freeze in February 2021 when they created more than 1,600 megawatts of electrical power to keep the lights on – and throughout the summer season heat dome occasion, dams held 15% of BPA’s overall necessary reserves.
In all of these circumstances, the Lower Snake River dams saved lives. And that’s simply on the energy front. The function these dams play in feeding the world cannot be overemphasized.
Sixty percent of all wheat exports from the Pacific Northwest relocation through the dams, making the river system the 3rd biggest export passage worldwide, sending out wheat from the United States to more than 20 nations throughout the Pacific Rim.
Washington’s wheat farmers have a tradition of feeding the world – a tradition we cannot jeopardize.
TRANSPORT FACILITIES
Barging on the Snake River permits farmers to move grain and other items effectively, conserving countless dollars annually and decreasing carbon emissions.
Without barging through the dams, we’d require an extra 538 semi-trucks on the roadway to move the wheat that is brought by simply one, four-barge tow.
Imagine what that would imply for all of the wheat barged on the river.
The financial advantages are likewise big.
Without barging, farmers would see the worth of their items – wheat, barley, potatoes, beans, onions – decrease, and the loss of jobs and financial activity would be felt throughout the board.
PROMISING FISH RUNS
Let me be clear: I share the objective of securing and bring back salmon work on the river system.
I desire my kids and grandkids to understand what salmon represent in our area.
The Lower Snake River dams are a simple target, however they are not the issue, and breaching them is not the option.
Like we saw today at Ice Harbor, these dams have best-in-class fish passage innovation and fish-friendly turbines. They are almost undetectable to moving salmon.
What’s not undetectable is the overpopulation of sea lions that delight in adult salmon going back to the Snake to generate. The birds that take advantage of juvenile salmon on their method to the ocean. The lots of hazardous sewage being discarded into Puget Sound that is actually suffocating the most crucial salmon for the Orcas.
These and other elements like ocean conditions, environment loss, and dams without any fish passage at all are the important things we require to be concentrated on in order to get outcomes.
PROVIDING OUTCOMES
And speaking of outcomes, salmon returns on the Lower Snake River have actually made motivating gains considering that 2019!
Last year, Spring Chinook returns were 31% above the 10-year average.
This year, Chinook left to a late start, so we are seeing those returns carefully. But wild steelhead returns are double what we saw this time in 2015!
Our focus requires to be on outcomes, which begins with investing our resources to get a much better understanding of what is taking place to salmon in the ocean, managing predators, resolving uncontrolled contamination, and bring back environments.
We need to concentrate on science and realities. Only then can we achieve our shared objective.
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