Comprehensive Water Study Charts Path to Lower Snake River Restoration, Salmon Recovery, and Agricultural Resilience
Potential Solutions Show a Future Where Salmon, Farms, and Communities Thrive Together
A groundbreaking draft report from the Bureau of Reclamation and Washington Department of Ecology lays out the most comprehensive and inclusive plan yet for addressing the water needs of farmers, communities, and ecosystems along the Lower Snake River. The report prioritizes Tribal treaty rights and interests, providing clear evidence that a free-flowing Lower Snake River is compatible with the region's agricultural and municipal water demands.
This study tackles long-standing questions about what would happen to water use if the four Lower Snake River dams were removed to restore endangered salmon, honor treaty obligations, and heal ecosystems. It makes clear that with the right investments, water users can adapt to a restored river while ensuring salmon populations have a chance to recover from the brink of extinction.
“This study is a milestone for the Pacific Northwest,” said Kayeloni Scott, Executive Director of the Columbia Snake River Campaign. “It’s an acknowledgment of the harm caused by the Lower Snake River dams to Tribes and their treaty-protected rights, while also showing how we can restore salmon, irrigate crops, and support thriving communities. The solutions outlined here prove it’s not a choice between fish and farms but rather an opportunity to have both.”
Key Findings
Honoring Treaty Rights: Restoring a free-flowing river upholds Tribal treaty rights, revitalizes salmon, and restores traditional fishing areas essential to Tribal cultures and livelihoods.
Water availability: Sufficient water exists in a free-flowing Lower Snake River to meet all current agricultural, municipal, and industrial needs year-round, even under low-water scenarios.
Economic contributions: Farms using Lower Snake River irrigation directly contribute nearly $637 million in gross revenue annually to the regional economy.
Groundwater resilience: 90% of groundwater wells will remain operational after dam removal, with the remainder requiring deepening or replacement.
Practical Solutions
The report stands out for identifying practical solutions for replacing irrigation infrastructure and ensuring uninterrupted water access. Each option considered had to be technically feasible, able to be constructed and operational before dam breaching, to avoid environmental, cultural, social, and water availability fatal flaws, and to make economic sense. A range of options for different sections is described.
“This is the most comprehensive and inclusive set of solutions ever developed for water use on the Lower Snake River,” said Miles Johnson, Legal Director of Columbia Riverkeeper. “The Bureau of Reclamation and Department of Ecology deserve credit for listening to farmers to hear concerns and to understand their irrigation needs. That’s the best way to design solutions that are both practical and forward-looking. This is the kind of leadership we need to ensure a thriving agricultural economy alongside salmon recovery.”
Key solutions outlined in the report include:
Pump stations and groundwater systems to deliver water efficiently.
Localized storage reservoirs and selective surface diversions tailored to specific needs.
For each section of the river, there are different alternatives described. For Lower Granite there are three, for Little Goose one, for Lower Monumental there are three, for Ice Harbor, where most of the irrigated farms are located, there are four options.
Salmon Recovery and Water Security
The report confirms that, even in low-water years, the Lower Snake River will have sufficient water to meet agricultural, municipal, and industrial needs. With smart investments, irrigation infrastructure can be adapted to ensure continued agricultural productivity while restoring salmon and steelhead populations.
“Snake River salmon are at the edge of extinction, and this report highlights a clear path to turn things around,” said Liz Hamilton, Policy Director of the Northwest Sportfishing Industry Association. “As someone who has seen the economic and ecological benefits of restored rivers firsthand, I know the potential here is enormous. This is our chance to not only save salmon but also rejuvenate the fishing industry while ensuring farms and communities remain strong and sustainable.”
Economic and Cultural Importance
The report underscores the vital contributions of the Lower Snake River, where agriculture, municipal, and industrial water uses combined generate just under $680 million annually in gross value for the regional economy. The net value of irrigated crops dependent on the reservoirs is estimated at $21.8 million per year. Including indirect contributions, such as related industries and tax revenues, the total economic impact approaches $1 billion annually.
The study estimates that replacing irrigation infrastructure will require $2 billion to $4 billion in upfront investments. While substantial, this cost is contextualized by the over $500 million spent annually on salmon recovery across the Pacific Northwest—efforts that have yet to bring wild salmon populations back from the brink. Since the 1980s, more than $24 billion has been spent on hatchery programs, fish passage systems, and habitat restoration with limited success. The report also highlights the incalculable value of salmon recovery for Tribal cultures, ecosystems, and the region’s fishing economy.
“Salmon recovery is not just about fish—it’s about fulfilling treaty obligations, supporting fishing communities, and restoring ecosystems,” said Sarah Dyrdahl, Northwest Region Director at American Rivers. “This study shows we don’t have to choose between salmon recovery and our current water use. With plenty of water and actionable solutions, it’s time to move forward.”
A Call to Action
“This report is a blueprint for action,” Scott concluded. “This study is another step in the right direction toward honoring Tribal rights and saving salmon from extinction, while still supporting the farmers and communities that contribute to a thriving Pacific Northwest. The cost of doing nothing is too high—it’s time to act.”
The public is invited to review and comment on the draft report through March 1, 2025. Comments can be submitted via webform, email, or regular mail.
