Trump administration’s Snake River dam withdraw stirs reaction

President Trump’s decision to revoke the Biden administration’s actions against the lower Snake River dams is drawing mixed reactions.

The original memorandum of understanding was signed with Washington state, Oregon, and four tribes to boost tribal clean energy and restore salmon populations.
While conservation groups have criticized the move, one lawmaker has called it welcome news.

Congressman Dan Newhouse says that he has been fighting to keep the dams, but there is work to be done in protecting salmon populations.

“I’m sure there will be continued discussions and conversations with the proponents of dam breaching, but the bottom line is, and I’ve said this all along and I’m glad the administration agrees, that we can have the dams but also continue to work very hard on making sure that salmon can not only survive but thrive. And we have some work to do there, no doubt!”

The Columbia River Basin is roughly the size of Texas and was once the world’s largest salmon-producing river system.
Today, twelve of the sixteen original stocks of salmon remain, seven of which are considered endangered.

Related Stories
Enforceable origin labels could create clearer premiums for U.S. cattle and address concerns some producers have had with competition from foreign imported beef.
A court decision that overturns Enlist labels would remove two major herbicides from use and reshape EPA’s future mitigation policies for other pesticides.
Pasture, Rangeland and Forage (PRF) interval selection—not just participation—drives protection levels as rainfall patterns become less predictable across the South.
If the House concurs and the President signs, USDA services and farm-bill programs resume at full speed with authorities extended for another year.
Experts highlight the importance of monitoring insecticide resistance in crops and improving disease traceability at livestock shows through RFID technology.
Lewie Pugh, with the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, joined us on Monday’s Market Day Report to share his perspective on what the bill could mean for truckers.