Dam Removal

One major problem that has caused the extinction of many migratory salmonid populations and threatens many more is the building of physical obstructions such as dams and impassable weirs across natural watercourses. In many cases in the UK this happened a very long time ago and it seems basically inconceivable that they would ever be removed. However, in the United States and Canada, real efforts in rehabilitation are underway to remove some dams to allow re-colonisation of previously unproductive areas of headwater streams. Not all pressure groups agree that this is a good idea.

Dam Removal News

Theodosia River Dam. On Feb. 28, 2000, British Columbia officials announced the conclusion of an agreement with Pacifica Papers Inc. to demolish a 292-foot long dam across the Theodosia River. This would be the first large Canadian dam to be removed, and would benefit coho, pink, and chum salmon populations entering Georgia Strait. [Environment News Service]

Dam Breaching. On Feb. 28, 2000, Presidential candidate George W. Bush, speaking in Pasco, WA, promised to forestall breaching of the 4 lower Snake River dams. Radio advertisements supportive of George W. Bush called breaching "a big mistake." On Feb. 29, 2000, NM Rep. Tom Udall was reported to have written a letter to President Clinton, becoming the first Member of Congress to publicly endorse breaching the 4 lower Snake River dams. On Mar. 9, 2000, and for the second year in a row, the environmental group American Rivers named the Snake River in WA as the nation's most endangered river and called on the Clinton Administration to breach the 4 hydroelectric dams to aid salmon recovery efforts. {{In late March 2000, Corps of Engineers officials reported that, at recent hearings in 4 Pacific Northwest states, supporters of dam breaching outnumbered opponents by a ratio of 3-to-1. Additional public comment is being accepted by the Corps through Mar. 31, 2000.}} [Assoc Press, Portland Oregonian, MSNBC, American Rivers press release]