Defending our Dams Act Seeks to Block Federal Funds for Altering Lower Snake River Dams

The 'Defending our Dams Act' proposes a significant restriction on federal actions concerning four specific dams in Washington State. According to Section 2, the bill would prohibit the use of any federal funds for activities that could enable, lead to, or even study the breaching or structural alteration of the Ice Harbor, Lower Monumental, Little Goose, and Lower Granite dams on the Lower Snake River. This includes blocking funds for studies related to power replacement, flood control adjustments, navigation alternatives, or technical assistance for dam removal.

Halting Change: The Core Restrictions

The central provision of this bill (Sec. 2) acts as a funding blockade against exploring or implementing changes to the physical structure or operational status of these four dams. It specifically targets any federal spending that might support modification or removal. Furthermore, the bill introduces a new layer of approval for certain water management practices. It restricts the Army Corps of Engineers from conducting 'spillage operations'—releasing water over the dams instead of through turbines, often used to aid fish migration—without explicit approval from both the Secretary (presumably of the Army or Interior, though unspecified) and the Administrator of the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA). Crucially, this approval process requires these officials to consider the operations of the entire Columbia River System, potentially shifting the focus away from localized environmental needs at the Snake River dams.

Potential Real-World Ripples

By freezing federal involvement in studying or pursuing dam alteration, the bill effectively reinforces the current state of the Lower Snake River dams. This has several potential consequences:

• Environmental Studies & Salmon: The funding ban directly impacts ongoing debates and scientific research concerning the dams' effects on endangered salmon populations. It prevents federal agencies from formally evaluating dam breaching as a potential recovery strategy, a key point of interest for environmental groups and regional tribes who rely on salmon.
• Energy and Economy: The continued, unaltered operation of the dams supports existing hydroelectric power generation managed by the BPA, barge navigation for transporting goods (like agricultural products), and irrigation systems drawing water from the reservoirs. Industries and communities reliant on these functions would see the status quo maintained.
• Water Management: The new approval requirement for spillage operations could alter how the Army Corps manages water flow, potentially prioritizing system-wide power generation or grid stability (as considered by the BPA) over localized fish passage needs. This introduces a procedural hurdle and shifts decision-making power.

Essentially, the bill aims to prevent federal resources from being used to change the existing infrastructure of the Lower Snake River dams, locking in their current functions and limiting avenues for exploring alternatives, particularly those related to environmental restoration or dam removal.