ID SJM110

Idaho opposes the removal or breaching of dams on the Columbia-Snake River System and its tributaries, and asserts sovereignty over its water resources.

The Columbia-Snake River System provides multiple benefits including navigation, hydropower generation (1,000 megawatts annually and 3,000 megawatts for peak power emergencies), flood control, irrigation, and recreation for the Pacific Northwest.

Up to 487,000 acre feet of Idaho water is used for salmon and steelhead flow augmentation under the 2004 Snake River Water Rights Agreement, with water released through willing buyer, willing seller arrangements and protections provided for 30 years.

The Port of Lewiston serves as Idaho's only seaport and handles approximately 10 percent of all U.S. wheat exports and about 50 percent of Idaho-grown wheat destined for export markets worldwide through the four Snake River dams.

Any removal or breaching of dams would cause economic losses including reduced trade opportunities, loss of recharge waters for aquifers, loss of navigation and transportation, increased flood risk, higher electrical rates, and reduced recreational opportunities.