WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho) issued the following statement regarding the White House’s final report from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) that advocates for the breaching of the Lower Snake River dams to improve salmon populations.

“The Biden administration has released yet another ‘report’ with cherry-picked facts and selective stakeholder engagement that does nothing but serve its political agenda and undermine the comprehensive and public process that determined dam removal is not necessary. What dam breaching does guarantee, however, are substantial losses in reliable, clean energy generation, significantly reduced markets for farmers, and extreme cost increases for consumers,” said Risch. “While this Administration is content with sky-high energy prices and inflation that promotes their radical agenda, only Congress can authorize dam removal. Now more than ever, I am flat out opposed.”

Background: The four hydroelectric dams on the lower Snake River provide multiple benefits to Idaho and the region, including flood risk management, economic stimulus, crop irrigation, transportation, and clean hydropower.

Following four years of comprehensive scientific study of the Columbia River System Operations, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Bureau of Reclamation and Bonneville Power Administration released a record of decision in September 2020 affirming the four dams’ critical importance to the region.

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