Columbia County Commissioners join opposition to U.S. Rep. Mike Simpson's plan for salmon recovery

DAYTON—In February, U.S. Congressman Mike Simpson, representing Idaho, District 2, unveiled a $33.5 billion proposal for breaching the four lower hydroelectric dams on the Snake River to address the problem of how to save salmon populations in Idaho, without disrupting the system that provides millions of people with electrical power. His proposal “The Northwest in Transition” calls for removing Lower Granite Dam, Little Goose Dam, Lower Monumental Dam, and Ice Harbor Dam, located in Washington State Congressional Districts 4 and 5.

According to the Idaho Conservation League, studies by fisher...