Good deal deserves support
Published 4:20 pm Friday, June 12, 2009
Perhaps the most delicate political balancing act in the Northwest is the one between clean, renewable hydropower and healthy salmon runs. It’s been the subject of court battles for decades, with huge implications for the economy and the environment.
Finally, after years of rising costs and legal uncertainty, an unprecedented consensus has emerged on a plan to put endangered salmon species on a path to recovery, while ensuring the future of the region’s critical hydro operations. The plan, however, must meet the approval of a federal judge in Portland, and he has expressed misgivings. The Obama administration, which wasn’t in office while key points of the plan were developed, is reviewing it and plans to issue a recommendation to the court soon.
This is a good plan, based in science with strong safeguards. It has the support of a bipartisan group of Northwest lawmakers, three Northwest states (including Washington), six tribes and key federal agencies. The Obama administration should support it, and commit to making adjustments as its effectiveness is measured in the coming years.
The plan, known as a biological opinion, is the third attempt to satisfy Judge James Redden that the region is complying with the Endangered Species Act. It would spend $10 billion over the next decade on fish recovery, on top of a similar amount that’s already been spent over the past 20 years. Roughly 20 percent of a typical Northwest electricity customer’s bill goes to salmon and steelhead recovery. This plan will add to that.
We suspect most Northwesterners are willing to make some investment in preserving such a cherished natural resource. There are limits, however. Among them is the breaching of four dams on the Lower Snake River, a move favored by some of the current plan’s opponents. It’s an idea that’s of questionable benefit to fish, and one that would surely have a dramatic impact on power rates, result in more global-warming pollution and reduce a much-needed backup to the region’s wind power, the availability of which depends on whether the wind is actually blowing.
Gov. Chris Gregoire, Sens. Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell and other leaders have worked hard to forge this consensus. Billions have been spent along the way to mitigate the effect dams have had on fish. This issue has been discussed, debated and litigated for years. Parties that once were courtroom foes are now united behind a strong, science-based plan.
It’s time to move forward and build on it, not to blow it up and start over.
