Biden Administration in Negotiations to Remove Dams for Salmon Protection

Republican lawmakers and public power industry express frustration over lack of involvement in the process.

Four Northwest Republican lawmakers have asked the federal government to share details of negotiations between the government and environmental groups that call for the removal of dams on the Columbia and Snake rivers.
A federal court in Oregon has paused a lawsuit on this matter until Dec. 15, during which time parties will work to save endangered salmon runs on the rivers.
The federal government and environmental groups have developed a package of actions and commitments that they intend to discuss with regional sovereigns and litigation parties.
Republican lawmakers and players in Washington’s public power industry have expressed frustration at the Biden administration for overlooking their concerns and leaving them out of the process.
The Biden administration did not explicitly call for the breaching of four hydroelectric dams on the Lower Snake River in Washington state in a September memo, but urged federal agencies to restore native fish populations in the basin.