Removal of the Snake River Dams

A Controversial Washington topic

Ice Harbor Lock and Dam, Snake River




Prepared for: Leo Ham, CEO of Ham Inc.

From: Solution Orientated Society (SOS)
Kevin Kronvall, Mindy Liou, and Benjamin Janicki

Subject: Removal of Snake River Dams: Second draft

Date: December 9, 2011
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Table of Contents

Letter of Transmittal ..............................................................................................................ii
Executive Summary ...............................................................................................................iii
Abstract ..................................................................................................................................1
Overview
The issue ....................................................................................................................1
Lower Snake River dams ...........................................................................................1
Ice Harbor dam ..........................................................................................................1
Elwha River dam removals ........................................................................................2
Salmon species ...........................................................................................................2
Discussion
Stakeholders ...............................................................................................................4
Arguments for dam removal ......................................................................................4
Arguments against dam removal ...............................................................................5
Analysis of dilemmas .................................................................................................6
Conclusion .............................................................................................................................7
References ..............................................................................................................................8
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Letter of Transmittal

In this team project, led by second year mechanical engineering major Benjamin Janicki, third year
chemical engineering major Kevin Kronvall, and second year electrical engineering major Mindy
Liou, the Solution Orientated Society (SOS) presents the issue of dam removal.
The report addresses the ethical dilemmas associated with this action by providing an overview of
dams from both a farming perspective and a salmon preservation standpoint. Our focus will be on
the Snake River, specifically the Ice Harbor Dam between Walla Walla and Franklin Counties. The
native Snake River salmon populations have become listed as endangered, prompting a proposal to
remove the dam. However, local farmers rely on the dam for irrigation, power, and transportation.
At the end of the report, team SOS provides a final recommendation from an engineering
perspective. As engineers, the livelihood of farmers in the region is our utmost concern, and we
recommend that the dam should not be removed.

For further questions, comments or concerns, please feel free to contact us:

Benjamin Janicki, Background Lead
sos_bglead@hcde231.net 555-SOS-BACK (555-767-2225)
Kevin Kronvall, Discussion Lead
sos_disclead@hcde231.net 555-SOS-DISC (555-767-3475)
Mindy Liou, Front Matter Lead
sos_fmlead@hcde231.net 555-SOS-FRNT (555-767-3768)
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

This report focuses on the proposed removal of the Ice Harbor Dam on the Lower Snake River in
Eastern Washington. The removal of the dam will likely increase salmon populations and improve
the local environment. The Snake River salmon populations have been struggling for several decades
and are on the verge of becoming endangered or extinct. However, the local community depends
upon the dam for the supply of irrigation water and power. Ice Harbor Dam is located in the hottest
and driest part of Washington State, where irrigation is necessary for farming.
This presents an ethical dilemma associated with the issue. As engineers, we are responsible for
treating the environment ethically and protecting the endangered salmon populations. However, the
lives of people should be our primary concern.
The Elwha River Dam Removal project in the Olympic National Park in Western Washington
began this year, and will be the largest dam removal in history. This provides a precedent in terms of
dam removal, but there are key differences between the Elwha Dam and the Ice Harbor Dam.
Elwha Dam was much older and smaller than Ice Harbor Dam, was built without fish ladders, and
never supplied irrigation water.
Our team recommends that the Ice Harbor Dam should not be removed until it reaches its life
expectancy, which is projected to occur in 2030. The number of wind energy farms is currently
increasing in the area, and this will give the community enough time to locate new sources of
irrigation water and power.
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ABSTRACT
The purpose of this report is to present, explore, and resolve whether or not the Ice Harbor Dam
on the Snake River should be removed. We will approach this contemporary engineering issue from
environmental, economic, and engineering points of view. Environmentalists argue that removing
dams will improve fish habitat, however farmers need the water for irrigation, power, and
transportation. Currently, the Elwha River Dam removal has been successful in the Olympic
National Park in Western Washington. This provides a precedent to compare to the proposed
removal of Ice Harbor Dam.
OVERVIEW

THE ISSUE
It is proposed that four dams along the Lower Snake River be removed. This is causing a debate
between environmentalists and the local community. The community depends on the dams for
power and irrigation, but environmentalists argue that the dams impede salmon migration. This
report focuses on the proposed removal of Ice Harbor Dam, because it is the only dam on the
Snake River that supplies irrigation water.
The controversy over the proposed removal of Ice Harbor Dam is focused on the debate between
community and environmental interests. Environmentalists argue that the operations of these dams
are currently costing more than the energy output, and impede salmon migration. The local
communities rely heavily on the dams for energy and irrigation for farms. Irrigation is especially
important in Eastern Washington where much of the current farmland would be desert if it were not
irrigated. A further analysis of the pros and cons of the removal of Ice Harbor Dam will be
discussed further in the report.
LOWER SNAKE RIVER DAMS
Four dams are being considered for removal: Lower Granite Dam, Little Goose Dam, Little
Monumental Dam, and Ice Harbor Dam. These dams are located on the Lower Snake River in
Eastern Washington.
The construction of all four of these dams was authorized by the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1945.
The purpose of the act was to improve navigation, hydropower, and recreation along the Snake
River. Fish stocking was also planned for the lakes behind the dams to improve recreation. The US
Army Corps of Engineers constructed the dams between 1955 and 1979. These dams are expected
to reach their life expectancy by 2030 (The Lower Snake Project, 1989).
If approved, the removal of these dams would be the largest dam removals in history, larger than the
Elwha River dam removal project, which began last month, October 2011 (The Lower Snake
Project, 1989).
ICE HARBOR DAM
Ice Harbor Dam is located on the Snake River between Walla Walla and Franklin Counties, eight
miles northeast of the city of Burbank. The dam is operated by the US Army Corps of Engineers,
and the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) distributes power produced by the dam. BPA
distributes the power from all four of the Lower Snake River dams, in addition to the power from
the growing number of windmill energy farms in the region (Bonneville Power Administration,
2007).
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Construction began in June of 1955, and the main structure and three power generators were
completed by 1961. The dam first opened in 1965, with a height of 100 feet and a length of 2,800
feet. Three additional power generators were added to the dam to increase electricity production in
1976. The dam also includes two fish ladders to allow migrating fish to pass through the dam (Ice
Harbor Lock & Dam, 1959).
According to BPA FactSheets (Bonneville Power Administration, 2007), power generating capacity
of the dam is 603 megawatts, which is 14% higher than the Boardman coal plant, which is 530
megawatts. According to Seattle City Light, this is approximately enough energy to power the city of
Seattle (Seattle City Lights, 2010).
Ice Harbor Dam is the only dam on the Snake River that provides irrigation water. Dams raise the
surface level of water on the river dramatically, reducing the amount of energy needed to pump the
water to nearby farms. Ice Harbor Dam supplies irrigation water for 36,224 acres of farmland in the
area. The dam also provides power to pump the irrigation water to the local farmers. Irrigation in
the area is necessary because of the high temperatures and dry climate; the record Washington
temperature of 118 degrees Fahrenheit was recorded at Ice Harbor Dam in 1961 (Burkholder, 1993).
ELWHA RIVER DAM REMOVALS
Dam removal is not an unprecedented event. In October 2011, the removal of dams along the
Elwha River in the Olympic National Park was begun.
The Elwha River Restoration Act passed in 1992 authorized the removal of the dams. Aging
infrastructure and declining fish stocks (Olympic National Park, 2011) were cited as the main
reasons for the dam removals. Built without fish ladders, these dams allowed no passage for
migrating salmon. There were also safety concerns due to the age of the dams and twenty-four
million cubic yards of sediment piled up behind them. The removal of these dams is a 27 million
dollar contract projected to take three years (Fish and Wildlife Service, 1994).
There are a few differences between the Elwha River dam removals and those proposed on the
Snake River. First of all, the Elwha River dam is older and smaller. Elwha dam was completed in
1913 and generated 19 megawatts of electricity, which is less than one thirtieth of the 603 megawatts
produced by Ice Harbor Dam. Second, Elwha Dam was built without fish ladders, and Ice Harbor
Dam includes fish ladders. Finally, Elwha Dam is located in a National Park away from communities
in a rainforest, and never supplied irrigation water to the area (Warrick and Magirl, 2011).
However, the benefits of these dam removals are substantial. Salmon populations are predicted to
swell from three thousand to nearly 390 thousand as all five species of Pacific salmon return to one
of the Pacific Northwest's most productive salmon streams. In addition, the free running stream
will now return marine-deprived nutrients to the watershed (Olympic National Park, 2011).
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SALMON SPECIES
The Snake River is the spawning ground for four species of anadromous fish: three species of
salmon and Steelhead Trout (United States, 2002). An anadromous species is one which lives part of
its life in saltwater and part of its life in freshwater. The salmon species are Chinook, Sockeye, and
Coho, and all three of them are listed as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species
Act. A threatened species is vulnerable to becoming endangered in the near future, while being
endangered means a species is at risk of becoming extinct due to low population size. The
dangerously low Snake River salmon populations are a major factor behind the proposed removal of
the Lower Snake River Dams.
Chinook salmon, commonly known as King Salmon, is the largest species of Pacific salmon. It is
currently listed as an endangered. Since 2008, Chinook fishing in Oregon and California have been
closed in order to allow the Chinook populations to recover. Washington Chinook populations are
in equal danger, but legislation has not yet been passed to reduce fishing (Fall Chinook Salmon
Survival, 1997).
Sockeye salmon are famous for their striking red color during spawning season. Though they are
common in places such as Alaska, the Snake River population of Sockeye is among the most
endangered salmon populations in the world.
Coho salmon, also known as Silver, are well known for the hooked noses and arched backs of
males during spawning season. The Snake River population of Coho salmon is listed as threatened.
Fortunately, research is currently being conducted to improve salmon habitat and monitor salmon
populations. Below is a graph of the salmon population going through the Ice Harbor Dam from
1975 to 2009. It is worthy of notice that although population numbers are still low, the Snake River
salmon populations have been increasing for the past ten years. This does not completely remove
the risks of low population, but it is encouraging data that indicates population levels are improving.


http://www.fpc.org/adultsalmon/adultqueries/Adult_Annual_Totals_Query_form.html
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DISCUSSION

STAKEHOLDERS
The removal of Ice Harbor Dam impacts many different groups of people, including farmers, the
Bonneville Power Administration, the United States Army Corps of Engineers, Washington
taxpayers, Walla Walla and Franklin County residents, environmentalists, politicians and engineers.
Farmers depend on the dam for irrigation and use the river for transportation of goods. The
Bonneville Power Administration is responsible for distributing the power produced by the dam to
the local residents. The US Army Corps of Engineers own the dam and is responsible for its
operations. Washington taxpayers provide funding for the operations of the dam, and will eventually
have to pay for the dam removal. The residents of Walla Walla and Franklin Counties, including
farmers, are the major beneficiaries of the dam. They rely on the dam for electricity and irrigation
water. The environmentalists are concerned with the impact that the dam has on the environment
and salmon populations. Politicians will ultimately make the decision of whether the dam should be
removed or not. Finally, engineers are the ones who built the dam, and will eventually be the ones
needed to remove it. Engineers will also be needed to develop alternative irrigation and power
sources after the dam removal.
The removal of Ice Harbor Dam poses many ethical dilemmas. The dilemma that this report focuses
on is the impact the dam has on the life of salmon versus the irrigation benefits it supplies to local
farmers. The removal of this dam will benefit wildlife and the surrounding ecosystem, but be
damaging to farming, the local economy, and the supply of green energy.
ARGUMENTS FOR DAM REMOVAL
Environmentalists wish to restore the river to its natural state. They argue that removing the Ice
Harbor Dam provides opportunity for the salmon populations to recover. The goal of any
technology that affects the environment is to reduce its ecological impact. Environmentalists argue
that there comes a certain point at which the good of the environment outweighs the benefits of the
technology.
Dams disrupt the natural flow of rivers, and hinder the return of salmon to their spawning grounds.
The unnatural lakes formed by the dams eliminate spawning areas for salmon, and build up
sediment and debris; including toxic waste (Olympic National Park, 2011).
Not only that, but dams also adjust the water flow through the turbine generators to maximize
electricity production. By mediating the timing of water flow, there is an inconsistent and unnatural
flow of water, which alters the local habitat, salmon migrations, and the survival of salmon
hatchlings.
With such vulnerable populations of salmon species being negatively impacted by these dams, there
is a large push for their removal among environmental groups.
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Environmentalists predict the removal of these dams would unlock major earnings potential of the
Snake River basin, creating a revenue stream of expanded salmon industries equaling at least 9
million dollars (LA Times, 2011). There are three species of salmon that live in the Snake River
system, and all of them are either threatened or endangered. They argue that the dams are a major
factor in the inability for the salmon populations to recover because the dam negatively impacts the
salmon habitat. The Snake River salmon populations are all threatened or endangered, and if their
populations do not recover dramatically they could become extinct.
The Elwha River Dam Removal Project has provided historical precedence for dam removals. This
is a historic moment," said Olympic National Park Superintendent Karen Gustin. "With award of
this contact, we begin the countdown to the largest dam removal and one of the largest restoration
projects in U.S. history." "Twenty-five years ago, the idea of removing this dam or any dam was
really seen as a crazy idea by a bunch of wild-eyed environmental extremists," said Bob Irvin,
president of the nonprofit group American Rivers, which is pushing to restore rivers across the U.S.
"Now it is a mainstream idea, because people recognize the benefits of restoring healthy rivers
benefits not only to the environment, but to communities" (LA Times, 2011).
Increased salmon populations could also improve commercial and recreational fishing in the area in
addition to tourism. Proponents of the dam removal argue that tourism would go up due to the
more natural river system and increases in fish populations.
ARGUMENTS AGAINST DAM REMOVAL
Dams are a reliable source of power, the cleanest form of energy, and provide reliable irrigation to
farmers. Not only is hydroelectricity the cleanest power source, it is also one of the most efficient;
Ice Harbor Dams capacity is 603 MW (Ice Harbor Dam, 2008). This is both an economic and an
environmental reason for keeping the dam; it is a green and efficient power source. Residents of
Walla Walla and Franklin Counties strongly oppose the dam removal because the dams supply the
power to these counties.
Opponents of the dam removal argue that although the salmon populations are in danger, they have
been on the increase in recent years. Ice Harbor Dam includes fish ladders to allow salmon
migration, unlike the recently removed Elwha Dam in the Olympic National Park.
Research conducted by BPA suggests that it will cost 400-550 million dollars per year to replace the
power generation capabilities lost by the removal of this dam. Although alternative energy sources
such as windmill farms are currently on the rise in the region, they will be insufficient to replace the
power lost by the dam removal for at least ten years (Bonneville Power).
Eastern Washington is much dryer than Western Washington, and irrigation is required for crop
production. The highest temperature ever recorded in Washington State, at 118 degrees Fahrenheit,
was recorded at Ice Harbor Dam in 1961. Ice Harbor Dam supplies irrigation water to 36,224 acres
of farmland (Burkholder, 1993).
Pumping is required to distribute the irrigation water to local farmers. Ice Harbor Dam supplies all
of the electricity necessary to run the pumping stations. If the dam is removed, not only will a new
source of irrigation water need to be found, but alternative supplies of electricity as well.
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Due to the regional climate, if farmers lose the ability to irrigate, they not only lose their farms but
they lose the ability to farm at all in the region; this costs them the use of their land as well as their
livelihood. Not only does this impact the farming industry, but on a larger scale the food industry
because farmers provide food to the country. It also impacts the local community because farming is
one of the major economic industries in the area.
ANALYSIS OF DILEMMAS
The removal of these dams will benefit salmon and the surrounding ecosystem. It would open
many miles of river and tributaries for salmon spawning, and likely increase salmon populations,
which would benefit both the environment and the economy.
However, the removal of the dam would eliminate the current supply of irrigation water to the local
farmers, as well as the power necessary to distribute the water. If farmers cannot access another
water source, this is likely to make them unable to farm in the region. This would destroy the
livelihood of the farmers and lower the value of their land. Less agriculture related commerce and
business in the local area would impact the local economy.
This is a very serious dilemma; the opening of miles of new habitat to improve the populations of a
threatened species of fish, versus the livelihoods of the local farmers. As engineers, people are our
first concern. Although progress has been slow, research data shows that the Snake River salmon
populations have steadily increased over the past ten years.
Considering all sides of the issue, our team recommends that the Ice Harbor Dam should not be
removed until it reaches its life expectancy, which is projected to occur in 2030. This will give the
community enough time to locate new sources of irrigation water and power.
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CONCLUSION

The removal of the Ice Harbor Dam is an issue that has environmental and economic impacts. The
dam is negatively impacting the local salmon populations, however the residents of Walla Walla and
Franklin counties depend on the dam for the irrigation of their farms and power. While the Elwha
River Dam Removal project has set a precedent in terms of dam removal, there are fundamental
differences between the Elwha Dam and the Ice Harbor Dam. Elwha River is located in the middle
of a national park where its removal does not impact communities. Elwha Dam never provided
irrigation water, and provided less than one thirtieth the power provided by Ice Harbor Dam.
Our recommendation in response to the proposed removal of Ice Harbor Dam is to keep the dam
until it lives out its life expectancy. This would allow enough time for the farmers to locate another
irrigation source. The Bonneville Power Administration manages the power produced by windmill
farms in Eastern Washington as well as dams, and the supply of wind energy is increasing every year.
By 2030, this would be more than enough energy to offset the power lost by the removal of the
dams, and could provide a stable source of power to pump water from the bottom of the gorge
instead of the dam reservoir.
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REFERENCES

Bonneville Power Administration: FactSheet. March 2007. PDF. 28 Nov. 2011.

Burkholder, Reed. Irrigation from 4 Lower Snake River Reservoirs. Bluefish, 1993. Internet.
28 Nov. 2011.

Dam removal begins, and soon the fish will flow, LA Times, 17 Sept. 2011. Newspaper. 24
Nov. 2011.

Duda, J. J., Warrick, J. A., Magirl, C. S., & Geological Survey (U.S.). (2011). Coastal habitats of
the Elwha River, Washington: Biological and physical patterns and processes prior to
dam removal. Reston, Va: U.S. Dept. of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey.

Ice Harbor Dam. Snake River Hydroelectric Project Information. Columbia Basin Research
and the University of Washington School of Aquatic & Fishery Sciences. 22 Dec.
2008. Internet. 1 Dec. 2011.

Olympic National Park Elwha Fisheries. National Park Service. 28 May 2011. Internet. 1
Dec. 2011.

Seattle City Light. Climate Change. seattle.gov. 2010. PDF. 19 Oct. 2011.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. (1994). The Elwha report: Restoration of the Elwha River
ecosystem & native anadromous fisheries : a report submitted pursuant to Public Law
102-495. Washington, D.C.: Dept. of the Interior, National Park Service, U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service.

United States. (1959). Ice Harbor Lock & Dam. Walla Walla, Wash.: US Army Corps of
Engineers, Walla Walla District.

United States. (1989). The Lower Snake River Project: Ice Harbor-Lower Monumental, Little
Goose-Lower Granite. Walla Walla, WA: US Army Corps of Engineers, Walla Walla
District, Public Affairs Office.

United States. (2002). Improving salmon passage: Final : Lower Snake river juvenile salmon
migration feasibility report/environmental impact statement. Walla Walla, Wash:
Army Corp of Engineers, Walla Walla District.

University of Idaho., United States., United States., Williams, J. G., Bjomn, . T. C., & National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). (1997). Fall Chinook Salmon
Survival and Supplementation Studies in the Snake River and Lower Snake River
Reservoirs, 1995 Annual Report. Portland, Ore: United States. Bonneville Power
Administration.