[Cannonball]

Hi...

As far as the "backwater bypass" creek, this idea was tossed aroung at a meeting some years ago, and it has come up time to time. I think those in charge are very reluctant to do anything, for fear of another idea didn't work. Fish ladders were supposed to solve the problem years ago. At that time reputable marine biologists said it would work, and the fish ladders were very expensive to install. Well, they did not work, and now no one wants to stick their neck out (my guess).

There are some politically influential groups becoming very interested in this situation. Before the three Hell's Canyon dams, there were a great number of salmon going up the Columbia River, Snake River, Salmon River, and other tributaries on the Snake. Not many are going up now.

Endangered specie legislation requires something be done. Construction companies and nuclear power plant builders and Wyoming coal companies are all eager to get into the act.

So many are expecting a big solution, one that puts a lot of people to work and one that gives limping Wall Street a boust, I don't think a simple solution would be accepted, at this point.

I have my doubts that the major change solutions will resolve salmon problems, I suspect major change will make things a lot worse. The big problems in my mind. include some considerations for the many rivers and creeks that were straightened via subsidies, to insure enough water to keep the Hell's Canyon Dams filled. Another problem has to be the tons and tons of silt that now rests behind those dams. Salmon like clean water, and don't do well in muddy water. To add to problems electronics industries around Boise, are adding lead to the water, and the much loved electricity, currently made by the dams, might be replaced by a nuclear power plant around the upper Snake. Lastly, all major suggested solutions would increase air polution.

If the salmon do not make a comeback, I fear the originally planned high dam that would produce three times more electricity that the three small dams that were built, will be built.

Hells Canyon is twice as deep as Grand Canyon, the high dam would be big indeed. The high prairies and higher mountains both sides of Hells Canyon have very cold winters with deep snows. Very few wildlife critters can survive that. All local wildlife knows that the floor of Hells Canyon has a mild winter, though summer high temperatures are very high.

A high dam would really flood the winter range of a whole lot of local wildlife. Mod politically correct thought is not to feed wildlife in the winter.

As for my Indian cousin, perhaps he is a "fish whisperer". I'll ask him for pictures next time we talk.