Workshops to be held on Lower Snake River Dams

OLYMPIA —Representatives Mary Dye and Joe Schmick, of the 9th District, are encouraging citizens to attend one of three workshops being held on Governor Jay Inslee’s Lower Snake River Dams Stakeholder Engagement Report.

“This report and whatever public input is provided could have a profound effect on the future of our lower Snake River dams,” Schmick said in a press release on Dec. 23. “These dams provide essential electrical power generation to our state, irrigation for agriculture, recreation and tourism, and navigation for wheat and other agricultural products barged to seaports. Thousands of Eastern Washington jobs depend on these dams staying in place.”

Dye seconded Schmick’s comments, saying that removal of the dams “would not only be detrimental to Washington state, but to the nation.”

“They provide stability for the clean energy supply for 13 western states and Canada,” Dye said, in the press release. “The Columbia-Snake River system is the third-largest grain export gateway in the world. Nearly 10 percent of all U.S. wheat exports move through the Snake River dams. Instead of fighting to remove dams, we should be investing in projects in Puget Sound that directly help the orca, such as improving our wastewater treatment capacity. We have continuing growth in the Seattle area and ongoing problems with wastewater and sewage spills into the Sound. This directly impacts the health and food supply for the orca.”

Inslee got a $750,000 study approved in the 2019 through 2021 operating budget that looks into the possibility of removing four dams on the lower Snake River. The dams in question are Ice Harbor Dam, Lower Monumental Dam, Little Goose Dam and Lower Granite Dam. A consulting team began the study in August, and the 113-page draft report was released on Dec. 20 by the governor’s office. While no recommendations are made, more than 100 viewpoints from federal, state, tribal officials, as well as others, are included.

“A federal evaluation is nearing completion in February which involves the creation of an environmental impact statement (EIS) that could decide the future of these dams,” Schmick said. “We are concerned the governor may use his dam study as a way to influence the EIS process, which could have major repercussions in Eastern Washington. That is why it is essential the public turn out to these workshops and show their support for retaining these dams.”

While public comment will not be accepted at the meeting, written comments will be taken during the workshops and online. Each workshop will include presentations of the governor’s report and panel discussions of different interests.

“This issue is too important to the well-being of our rural economies for citizens to be silenced,” Dye said. “There’s nothing more powerful than hearing public comments in a public forum. I find it unconscionable that forum organizers are unwilling to hear the voices of the people who are most deeply affected by calls to remove the dams. I highly encourage people to get to one of these meetings and submit their written comments. We must let the governor know where we stand on this issue.

Written comments will be accepted online until Jan. 24 at lsrdstakeholderprocess.org. A copy of the report is also available.

The workshops will be held on three dates and locations: Jan. 7 at the Quality Inn and Suites in the Quay Convention Center, 700 Port Dr., Clarkston; on Jan. 9 at the Washington State University Vancouver Dengerink Administration Building, 14204 N.E. Salmon Creek Ave., Vancouver; and Jan. 13 at the Red Lion Hotel and Conference Center, 2525 N. 20th Ave., Pasco. Workshops are from 6 to 9 p.m.

For more information, contact Schmick at 360-786-7844 and Dye at 360-786-7942.

Rachal Pinkerton may be reached via email at rpinkerton@suntribunenews.com.