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.
