Federal and state agencies, Tribal governments, and stakeholders are working together to plan how to replace the services of the four lower Snake River dams. These planning efforts came about as a result of both the Washington state legislature and the Resilient Columbia Basin Agreement.
This blog dives deeper into the transportation sector and provides you with a way to take action!
Transportation
Background:
Dams on the lower Snake River create a navigational waterway from the confluence of the Snake and Columbia Rivers in Washington to Lewiston, Idaho. Removing the dams would make this waterway inoperable for barges.
The transportation study was first approved by the Washington Legislature in 2023, which funded the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) to analyze how transportation of goods from southeast Washington could continue if the lower Snake River dams were removed. As a result of the Resilient Columbia Basin Agreement, the US Army Corps of Engineers will assist WSDOT in its efforts by including transportation from Idaho and Oregon.
Currently, approximately 2.9 million tons of goods are transported via barge through the lower Snake River dams each year. About 87% of this shipping is wheat being transported to ocean ports near Portland, from which most is shipped overseas. Barging on the lower Snake has declined by almost 30% since 1999 as shippers began to use railroads to transport their goods. Other factors, such as the loss of container shipping to Lewiston, have played a role too. Many other commodities that were once shipped via barge—such as lentils, garbanzo beans, paper products, and many wood products—are now transported via train or truck.
Update and a Way to Take Action!
In November 2024, WSDOT opened an online open house for the project, which provides basic information on their task and general scope of work. This webpage is a good general resource to understand the basics of transportation on and near the lower Snake River.
The open house also has a feedback form, which we encourage you to fill in—but you only have a few days to do so, so get this done for salmon and a brighter future for the Northwest today! See instructions below.
By Friday, December 6th, follow these steps to fill out the public feedback form. These instructions are just suggestions, please fill out the form honestly and from your own experiences.
- Visit https://engage.wsdot.wa.gov/lower-snake-river-dams/feedback/
- For “What are you most concerned about as WSDOT continues this study?” > Don’t make a selection.
- Skip “Please list roadways in the study area…” unless you are familiar with the roadways.
- Under Rail Capacity, for “How do these current conditions match with your experience within the study area?” > Select “the findings align with my experience”
- Under Roadway Capacity, for “How do these current conditions match with your experience within the study area?” > Select “the findings align with my experience”
- Enter your Name and email address
- Message: Type a personal message telling WSDOT why it’s important to you that we move away from transportation via the four lower Snake River dams. Not sure what to say? Here are some suggestions:
- Snake River barging has declined significantly, and the need for robust rail and road infrastructure is more critical than ever.
- A modernized transportation system can better support agricultural exports while preserving our iconic salmon runs.
- Removing the lower Snake River dams is the next step in creating an efficient, forward-thinking transportation network.
- Complete the math problem under “Are you human?”
- Click the Send button!
More sections for energy, irrigation, and recreation studies are in development. Check back on the ICL blog for more updates, or get news delivered right to your inbox by signing up for ICL Salmon & Steelhead Campaign updates!