The Effect Of Hydroelectric Water Dams On Salmon In The Pacific Northwest

For thousands of years, salmon have played an integral role of the ecosystem in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. In the 1700s, the settling of human's in the region had a tremendous impact on the native fisheries. Since that time, salmon have been affected by a growing population and economy in the Pacific Northwest. At that time, Europeans had begun to occupy land along the Columbia River, imposing their culture on the natives of that land. By the 1800's, disease brought by the European's had cleared nearly all of the population, however, the Columbia River's resources were being exploited to a great degree by the new settlers.

Towards the turn into the 20th century, dams began to affect a process known as salmon runs, where salmon swim back up into the rivers in which they were born and spawn themselves. Furthermore, hydroelectric and flood-control projects reduced the available salmon in the region to half. In addition to these factors, grazing, irrigation, logging, mining, predators, urbanization, and over fishing all play critical roles in the reduction of salmon to the Pacific Northwest.

As the population continues to grow out west, the future for salmon in the region is unpredictable. The status of salmon has become a major concern for environmentalists, nevertheless, the recent efforts for the recovery of wild salmon has merely been an effort to undo the damages that have been caused in recent generations of developers.

Within the Columbia Basin in the Pacific Northwest, the salmon population has dwindled to a mere five percent, of what once was estimated to be at 16 million salmon. Obviously, the ability for salmon to survive is dependant on several factors, most of which have played a negative role on the population in recent decades. Salmon rely on so many factors of the ecosystem during their life cycle, therefore, there ability to survive and reproduce is relative to the status of these factors. For starters, the habitat provided by the Columbia Basin is crucial. The land and water management in the last generation has reduced the complexity of the Columbia channel. As a result, access to spawning areas has diminished as well as a decrease in water quality in river systems. Moreover, fishery harvest and hatcheries have resulted in declining runs of Pacific salmon as well as negative impacts on the health and genetics of the fish.

One of the major factors in the reduced population of salmon is the set up of hydroelectric power in regard to the flow of water and passage of salmon. Hydropower facilities and operations have reduced survival in the migration of salmon. In addition, barriers such as culverts and road crossings have altered stream flow patters, and eliminated or blocked the fish from tributary habitats within the Columbia River system.

Atmospheric conditions can influence long term weather factors such as rainfall and marine productivity in the Pacific Northwest, as well as influence salmon reproduction. Factors of the climate cycle also impact the reproduction and survival of salmon. A change in climate affects stream flows, stream temperatures, ocean temperatures, ocean food production as well as fish predators.

The need for hydroelectric power generated from dams along the Columbia River has blocked the passage of salmon looking to head up stream in hopes of spawning. In the Pacific Northwest, a large percentage of salmon are subject to fishing efforts in the Canadian and Alaskan waters. The exploitation of these fisheries has typically outdone and exceeded any in the southern United States. For this, the United States has begun to make a great deal of effort into sustaining and restoring the salmon population in the region. Intercepting endangered Pacific Northwest salmon is critical towards the success of recovery efforts. Furthermore, the United States has started major efforts to preserve and rebuild the salmon population through a series of programs and agencies. Acts such as the Pacific Salmon treaty serves as a cost-effective salmon recovery program that strives to achieve its long term control on the interception of endangered salmon. Since the 1980's, the Pacific Northwest Electric Power and Conservation Act has served to address the adverse impacts that hydroelectric power facilities have had on the Columbia river salmon in the states of Oregon and Washington. Also, through the Endangered Species Act, salmon recovery programs have been developed and implemented and seen as an urgent matter in regard to the local fisheries.

Although these acts and other efforts have been made, the dams that produce the hydroelectric power still remain. Federal officials claim that the dams within the Columbia River Basin do not jeopardize the existence of endangered salmon and new technologies can help ensure their survival. The administration assigned to this matter have laid out a strategy to balance the operation of dams along the Columbia river basin while maintaining the obligation to protect and restore the wild salmon population of that region. Under the Endangered Species Act, thirteen different salmon species are labeled as endangered while living within fourteen different dams along the Columbia River. Scientists estimate that each of the fourteen dams along the river kills up to fifteen percent of all salmon that pass through it. The federal administration's plan for the protection and recovery of endangered salmon species has been a major controversy among environmentalist in the area. Many feel the strategy is inadequate and poorly planned. In 2003, the plan was determined as violating the Endangered Species Act due to a lack of confidence that the actions would not be carried out or executed. With a new revised plan, there is certainty that the protection of salmon would be ensured while still allowing for use of the dams. Through this new plan, the negative effects engendered by the dams along the basin will be offset by the proposed protection actions.

The plan will provide and ensure sustainability through a series of protection precautions. The precautions include an installation of a multi-million dollar fish slide along the dam that will improve and allow for easier passage through the dam for salmon. Also, funding for fish and wildlife habitat improvements