Infographic Shows How the Army Corps of Engineers Can Save Salmon and Money in the Willamette River Basin
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers operates eight hydropower-producing dams on the Santiam, McKenzie, and Middle Fork Willamette subbasins. Built in the early 1940s, the primary purpose authorized by Congress was, and is, flood control. The Corps also operates the dams to produce a small amount of electricity. However, the hydropower produced by these dams is uneconomical and puts endangered Chinook and steelhead salmon at great risk.
To save salmon and cut costs for Oregon communities, the Corps should support the deauthorization of hydropower at the Willamette River Basin dams and conduct sustained seasonal drawdowns at these reservoirs. By drawing down the Willamette River Basin reservoirs, the Corps can return the river to a more natural flow and restore endangered salmon populations.
The Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde have created an infographic to illustrate the positive impact of these solutions, which will save salmon and cut costs for ratepayers in the Willamette River Basin.
Download this infographic here: LINK