Dam Removal the Hot Topic in U.S. West

On the west coast, the Elwha, Klamath, and the Snake are just a few of the major rivers on the radar of state and local agencies that are beginning to think the day of the massive dam is over. “‘On this scale, in this type of river, it’s a first,’ says Mike McHenry, fish habitat manager for the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe, whose reservation straddles the river. ‘We’re entering an era where a lot of dams will probably be removed. So we think it’s important to document what happens.'” As the costs of repairing major dams rises and their utility lessens, most states are beginning to rethink the logic of permitting dams to remain in place. For those interested in the future of salmon, it’s a bright light at the end what has been a very dark tunnel. John Ritter in USAToday. (Thanks to reader Sherelyn Campbell for this link.)