A utility district in west-central Oregon this week became the first to back breaching of four federal dams on the lower Snake River to help restore endangered salmon runs. The utility sent a letter to the Clinton administration urging partial dam removal, asserting that breaching the dams represented the best way to save the salmon and ensure the stability of future electric rates, even if the rates stabilize at a higher level. The move came a week after the Oregon House overwhelmingly approved a measure calling on Congress and the White House to prevent breaching of the dams. The National Marine Fisheries Service is scheduled to decide this year whether breaching the dams offers the best opportunity for saving the salmon.
