A newly commissioned economic study suggests that breaching the four Snake River dams in eastern Washington would not significantly damage the finances of Nez Perce and Asotin counties, according to research prepared by Headwaters Economics, a Bozeman, Montana-based firm. The analysis was funded by Idaho Rivers United, an environmental organization that supports dam removal as a strategy to restore salmon populations.
The study examined economic conditions in both counties, which have struggled to keep pace with broader regional growth. Nez Perce and Asotin counties trail northern Idaho and eastern Washington in population expansion, job creation, per-capita income gains, and poverty reduction. Both areas face aging populations and are attracting new residents at roughly half the rate of the surrounding region.
Energy and Shipping Trade-Offs
Removing the four dams would reduce Columbia River hydropower system generation by approximately 900 average megawatts. The study projects that replacing this energy would raise electricity rates by $1 to $2 per month for consumers in the region. However, dam breaching would also eliminate barge shipping between Lewiston and the Tri-Cities, a consequence that has been central to the debate over dam removal for more than thirty years.
The four Snake River dams have been the focus of sustained controversy regarding fish restoration. Snake River spring and fall chinook, as well as steelhead, are listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act, while sockeye salmon carry endangered status. Environmental advocates argue that removing the dams is essential to species recovery.
The Trump administration assessed the dam-breaching proposal in 2020 and concluded that while removal would benefit fish populations, the costs—including reduced hydropower generation and the loss of shipping infrastructure—were too substantial to justify the action. The Biden administration later reached an agreement with Snake and Columbia River Indian tribes and the states of Oregon and Washington to pursue salmon recovery initiatives and fund additional studies.
Community Input Expected
Public meetings are scheduled to discuss the economic findings. Lewiston residents will have the opportunity to provide input at a session set for August 3 from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Lewiston City Library. The Clarkston meeting is planned for August 5 from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Red Wolf Golf Club.
The study’s release reflects ongoing federal and state engagement with the dam question. While neither the Trump nor Biden administrations has moved to breach the dams, the fish-restoration argument continues to attract support from tribal governments and environmental groups. The economic analysis may influence how local communities weigh the trade-offs between regional hydropower benefits, shipping capabilities, and species recovery.
What Comes Next
Community members in both Lewiston and Clarkston are encouraged to attend the scheduled public meetings to review the economic study findings and share perspectives on the potential impacts of dam removal. The outcome of these discussions could shape local input into broader state and federal policy decisions regarding the future of the four Snake River dams.