Breaching The Dams, A Controversial Solution To Saving Salmon

18 Pages 4531 Words

rom 200 scientists, mostly fisheries biologists, who argued in a letter to President Clinton that dam breaching is “ the surest way” to restore fish populations. “The needs of salmon are clear, if dams stay, salmon go, if dams go, salmon stay”,says Ted Koch, a fish and wildlife service biologist in Idaho, who, like many others who signed the letter, says he’s not speaking for his employer. ( Lovett,574). Joining their cause are some 300 organizations, ranging from the Center for Marine Conservation to the Federation of Fly Fishers, that have endorsed a dam-breach petition. “Every year we spend millions more on bizarre schemes to try to save these fish, and every year fewer and fewer fish return to spawn”, says Rebecca Wodder, President of American Rivers, Which led the petition drive along with the group Taxpayers for Common Sense. “The science is in”, Wodder says. “there is no longer any excuse for delay”. (Lovett,574). Jim Licahtowich writes “ Downstream of Bonnevile Dam, there is more evidence that the salmon can bri...