Corps of Engineers Budget Request Threatens Salmon

Today Rep. Dan Newhouse (WA-04) questioned officials with the Army Corps of Engineers and Bureau of Reclamation about the Lower Snake River dam’s salmon mitigation and spillage operations in a budget request hearing with the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development.

Testifying at the hearing was Scott Spellmon, Corps Chief of Engineers, Michale Connor, Assistant Secretary of the Army, and Camille Touton, Commissioner of the Bureau of Reclamation.

The annual budget request by the Corps of Engineers proposes $75.2 million for the Columbia River Fish Mitigation Program while research shows spillage operations harms water quality and could result in a surge in salmon mortality.  

Watch Rep. Newhouse’s remarks HERE or read remarks as prepared below:

“Thank you, Chairman. I appreciate having the chance to ask questions today about the Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) and Army Corps (Corps) FY25 budget.

I want to thank our guests for all the work you do.

Today, I’d like to discuss the Lower Snake River Dams and the Columbia River Treaty.

Mr. Spellmon, a lot has changed regarding the Columbia River System Operations litigation. The Administration and sovereign nations have come to an agreement. Currently, it is being implemented. Your budget proposes $75.2 million for the Columbia River Fish Mitigation Program.

As part of the agreement, the Corps is conducting spillage operations on the Snake River. The Corps’ purpose of these operations is to minimize the time it takes salmon to move through the dams to ensure a “healthy and abundant” salmon population.

Mr. Spellmon, are you aware there is scientific and peer-reviewed research which confirms spillage operations can negatively impact water quality downstream by increasing total gas dissolution which kills salmon?

If the outcome of expanded spillage operations were to be a surge in salmon mortality, wouldn’t that defeat the purpose of the spill?

I appreciate your answers.

Mr. Connor, I’d like to discuss the same issue.

Currently, a large dam removal project is happening along the Klamath River. Dam-breaching advocates tout it as an effort to improve the salmon population. However, 830,000 salmon were killed when the dams were breached. It is believed the fish died due to “gas bubble disease” when passing through tunnels.

Mr. Connor, yes or no, are you aware of this?

Given all this, if there were a point where the Lower Snake River Dams were to be physically breached isn’t it possible that salmon mortality could increase?

Another reservation I have with spillage operations is that spilling water will decrease the amount of hydroelectricity generated. Washington struggles with weather like droughts and a shrinking snowpack. We need robust hydropower more than ever.

Mr. Connor, will spillage operations decrease the amount of hydroelectricity the dams are able to produce?

If spillage operations make it so that not enough hydroelectricity is generated for the dams to operate, wouldn’t they be functionally useless?

Now, I’d like to transition to discussing the Columbia River Treaty (CRT).

The Pacific Northwest delegation has concerns over the Administration’s failure to negotiate the CRT. The treaty must be changed to have a balance of payments to Canada for storage and develop a suitable agreement for pre-planned flood control. 

It’s been five years since negotiations began and impacted stakeholders are concerned about flood risk impacts. The budget request includes $4 million for treaty negotiations; but nothing for flood control payments to Canada.

What will the Corps be doing to handle flood risk management with respect to domestic measures and relations with Canada in the interim?

And how does the Corps plan to coordinate with the Mid-Columbia public utility districts on future river operations?

Thank you for your answers.

Commissioner Touton, thank you for your budget request for the Yakima River Basin Water Enhancement Project. This project is vital in Central Washington to protecting the water supply for irrigation.

However, I would like to discuss the Lower Snake River Dams.

In your testimony, you referenced a request of $500,000 for the WaterSMART Program. Through this program, BOR can fund dam removal. You said dam removal would only be done if the projects are “supported by a broad multi-stakeholder group.”

Stakeholders — those not directly involved with the litigation but have to deal with the consequences — have complained about the lack of outreach the Administration does with them.

Commissioner, since dam breaching is being considered, what, if any, outreach has BOR done with stakeholders to understand the impact dam removal would have on Washingtonians?

You also included $2.8 billion for Indian Water Rights settlements. And, $34 million for the requirements of the CRSO agreement.

The purpose of Indian Water Rights Settlements is to help tribes secure historical water and land. While the CRSO agreement never explicitly calls for dam breaching, it does commit to funding for studies, projects, and operations if Congress approves dam breaching.

Why would BOR be proposing such a large financial set aside for water rights settlements, unless BOR along with the Administration, has already pre-determined dam breaching is inevitable?

Thank you, and I yield back.”

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