JASON RANTZ

Breaching Snake River dams ‘wasteful’ in efforts to save Puget Sound orcas

May 22, 2019, 5:54 AM

Snake River Dams...

A dam along the Snake River. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

(AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

Local politicians are speaking out against a measure signed by Gov. Jay Inslee, putting $750,000 toward studying the viability of breaching the Snake River dams. Among opponents to that plan is Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers.

Breaching the dams has long been discussed as a possible fix for reviving the local Chinook salmon population, and in turn, providing aid to the region’s ailing orca population. For McMorris Rodgers, though, it’s less a solution, and more a waste of money and resources.

Could breaching Snake River dams save Southern Resident orcas?

“This is really wasteful spending to study something that will have no impact,” she told The Jason Rantz Show.

Instead, the Eastern Washington Congresswoman proposes other fixes, like reducing pollution in Puget Sound, curbing the ever-expanding population of sea lions, and funding habitat restoration efforts for salmon.

“I think those kind of efforts would be much more impactful than spending money on studying taking out dams,” she continued.

McMorris Rodgers went on to note a potential hit to shipping and commerce, pointing out that “we barge a lot of products up and down the river because the dams.” She also cited the dams as method of flood control, as well as a source of low-cost hydro-power.

“This whole system is foundational to our economy,” she said.

Other opponents of the plan to breach the dams have agreed that it would be an overly expensive project that produces little in the way of results for saving Puget Sound’s orcas.

“Spending hundreds of millions, even billions of dollars to tear down the Snake River dams, would do very little,” Todd Myers of the Puget Sound Salmon Recovery Council told Seattle’s Morning News back in October. “It would be a marginal benefit at best.”

Lawmakers pass sweeping protections for Puget Sound orcas

Not only would it not help, but Myers claims that ultimately, breaching the dams could be “a deadly distraction for orca,” as well as a costly one for taxpayers. He estimated that breaching the dams would lose approximately 7 percent of Washington’s energy.

Jason Rantz on AM 770 KTTH
  • listen to jason rantzTune in to AM 770 KTTH weekdays at 3-7pm toThe Jason Rantz Show.

Jason Rantz Show

Jason Rantz

Burien lawsuit...

Jason Rantz

Exclusive: City of Burien sues King County for breaking contract in homeless camping ban

The City of Burien filed a lawsuit against King County for its refusal to enforce a homeless camping ban that was lawfully adopted.

5 hours ago

Image: The Stevens County Sheriff's Office says it recently received an odd call from a Sasquatch h...

Jason Rantz

Rantz: Sheriff’s office asked legality of hunting Sasquatch in Stevens County

A Sasquatch hunter had an interesting question for the Stevens County sheriff. Is it legal to hunt Sasquatch?

21 hours ago

Image: Children bike past Wilson Elementary in Spokane....

Jason Rantz

Rantz: ‘Racist’ Spokane elementary school’s ‘slaves and hobos’ ignites controversy

After a teacher told students they could dress as "slaves and hobos" for an event, the Spokane NAACP cried foul.

2 days ago

Images: At left, Bellevue Police Department Officer Kevin Bereta is seen in his uniform. At right, ...

Julia Dallas

Bellevue officer injured in VP Harris motorcade recalls road to reclaiming benefits

Bellevue Police Officer Kevin Bereta's life changed while he was on VP Kamala Harris' service detail during her visit to Washington.

2 days ago

permanent supportive housing...

Jason Rantz

Rantz: You’re being lied to about permanent supportive housing in Redmond

Redmond residents rightly push back against permanent supportive housing as a solution for the homeless, as Seattle media get in the way.

3 days ago

WA State Attorney General Bob Ferguson campaigning.  (Photo by Karen Ducey/Getty Images)...

Jason Rantz

Rantz: On crime, Bob Ferguson campaign made its first massive blunder

The Bob Ferguson campaign wants you thinking his top priority is crime. His entire political history says otherwise.

4 days ago

Breaching Snake River dams ‘wasteful’ in efforts to save Puget Sound orcas