4 ms·

I also live in Idaho, but the nasty effect of dams was characterized by Lonesome Larry, the only sockeye salmon to return to redfish lake in 1992. Redfish lake

by bb88 7y ago

I also live in Idaho, but the nasty effect of dams was characterized by Lonesome Larry, the only sockeye salmon to return to redfish lake in 1992. Redfish lake was named for the teems of brightly colored red sockeye salmon that once populated it. As of two years ago, the last time I was up there, it was still mostly devoid of salmon. In effect dams and the subsequent fish farming efforts to save the salmon end up being a subsidy for the farmers. In all fairness I would rather just give farmers a subsidy to transport their grain rather than to try to outsmart nature. In the end we would ask ourselves if the economics of transporting grain from remote areas is worth it economically, and we can leave the environmental issue out of the equation.

cronix 7y ago
> In effect dams and the subsequent fish farming efforts to save the salmon end up being a subsidy for the farmers. And everyone else in the region who uses electricity generated from the dams, which is quite a bit.
- irrational 7y ago
  This was my first thought. I don't ship anything through dams, but most of my electricity comes from dams on the Columbia.
- bb88 7y ago
  Absolutely correct, but OP only talked about issues related to agriculture. EDIT:. Maybe not as bad as some might think. The 4 lower Snake River damns provide only 4% apparently of the regions power. https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2018/apr/08/replacing-power-produced-by-four-snake-river-dams-/ https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2018/apr/08/replacing-powe... So while yes the hydropower would need to be replaced it may not be a huge cost to do it.
ljw1001 7y ago
> In the end we would ask ourselves if the economics of transporting grain from remote areas is worth it economically, and we can leave the environmental issue out of the equation. Looking at complex issues - especially issues involving the environment - through the single lens of economics is dangerous. It's like deciding that the best way to get someplace is to drive 140 MPH, because it's the quickest. And you can leave safety out of the equation.

by bb88 7y ago

cronix 7y ago

> In effect dams and the subsequent fish farming efforts to save the salmon end up being a subsidy for the farmers. And everyone else in the region who uses electricity generated from the dams, which is quite a bit.

irrational 7y ago
This was my first thought. I don't ship anything through dams, but most of my electricity comes from dams on the Columbia.
bb88 7y ago
Absolutely correct, but OP only talked about issues related to agriculture. EDIT:. Maybe not as bad as some might think. The 4 lower Snake River damns provide only 4% apparently of the regions power. https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2018/apr/08/replacing-power-produced-by-four-snake-river-dams-/ https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2018/apr/08/replacing-powe... So while yes the hydropower would need to be replaced it may not be a huge cost to do it.

ljw1001 7y ago

> In the end we would ask ourselves if the economics of transporting grain from remote areas is worth it economically, and we can leave the environmental issue out of the equation. Looking at complex issues - especially issues involving the environment - through the single lens of economics is dangerous. It's like deciding that the best way to get someplace is to drive 140 MPH, because it's the quickest. And you can leave safety out of the equation.