Learn the Facts
Survival of juvenile salmon and other fish species passing through the Walla Walla District dams has continued to significantly improve since the initial installation of the dams due to research and the substantial investment in modification of structures and operations. Walla Walla District has one of the highest overall fish passage survival percentages in the world for dams of this size.
Quick Facts
- Barging is the lowest cost, cleanest mode
of transport available. - The Columbia Snake River System is the top
wheat export gateway in the U.S. and the third
largest grain export gateway in the world. - Power blackouts are predicted by 2026
even with the dams intact. Without the dams
the risk of blackouts will increase
dramatically. - Breaching the 4 lower Snake River Dams will
destroy 1,000s of jobs and millions of
dollars in economic activity in the Pacific
Northwest with no guarantee of fish returns. - Facts: Fish numbers fluctuate due to ocean
conditions, commercial fishing, & predators.
- Flushing water at high volumes poisons fish.
- The 4 lower Snake River dams provide enough
clean energy to power 1.87 million homes. - BPA reports the loss of power revenue from
breaching the Snake River damsrangesfrom
$264 to $350 Million each year. - A typical 4-barge tow on the river moves the
same amount of cargo as 140 rail cars or 538
trucks. The NW Power & Conservation
Council estimates that CO2 emissions would
increase by at least 3 million metric tons
each year without the Lower Snake River
Dams. - Hydropower makes up about 90% of the NW’s
renewable energy.