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BoCC Passes Letter to Protect Dams by Staff Whitman County Gazette, August 8, 2019

Whitman County commissioners passed a resolution Monday against breaching of Snake River dams.

"We thought we would reaffirm the position Whitman County has had for a long-standing period of time," said Commissioner Michael Largent, who is also a board member for the state's Salmon Recovery board.

The board was asked to sign a letter on the matter at its last monthly meeting in July.

Largent voted against it taking a position.

"Salmon recovery is very non-political. I thought that who should do this are elected officials."

Largent also noted the timing as related to Washington state funding a study of the dams, as featured in Governor Jay Inslee's budget.

Commissioner Dean Kinzer noted a new study released last week which advocated for the removal of dams. It was conducted by Seattle-based ECONorthwest, an economic consulting firm, and funded by Vulcan, Inc., the company which oversees the business and philanthropy of the late Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen.

Largent said a copy of the Whitman County commissioners' resolution will be sent to the Salmon Recovery Board and to other counties.

Related Pages:
Study: Breaching Dams Would Pay Off by Eric Barker, Lewiston Tribune, 7/31/19
Bonneville Power Administration Faces Promise and Perils in Changing Energy Markets by Hal Bernton, Seattle Times, 7/21/19