Discussion: Should the Dams Be Removed to Save the Pacific Northwestern Salmon Population?

Dongsheng Yan

doi:10.22158/se.v7n1p1

Abstract

From 1885 till now, dams keep played an important role in Pacific Northwest. However, despite providing transportation convenience and electricity affecting the salmon population, they greatly impacted the salmon population. Nowadays, people standing for different parties are arguing whether the dams should be removed to restore the salmon population. Currently, a solid plan for dam removal has been proposed by Congressman Simpson. And it’s barely a start, further discussions will become more intensified and require an urgent environmental political response.

Highlights

As people’s increasing development and exploitation of natural resources to pursue a higher quality of life, conflicts between nature and humans are inevitable
As for the Salmon People, they cannot wait to remove the dams for the sake of their critical living condition and their weakening culture
The dam companies disagree with the dam removal decision, since they do not want to pay for the removal of dams

Summary

Discussion

Removing these huge constructions will bring serious consequences. To begin with, the dams in the Pacific Northwest provide around 40 percent of the electricity. Knowing that the two metro places, namely the Tri-City and the Lewiston-Clarkston area, would suffer the most when the dams are removed, David Reeploeg argues that dam removal policy is not good enough He points out the reason that the rise of fish numbers is uncertain but the harming communities and industries in the Pacific Northwest was something expected to happen (Annette, 2021). As dams in Pacific Northwest become barriers that cannot pass through for salmon, they are forced to reproduce in different places The disturbance of their life cycle brings a huge impact to the number of their species. A vital species in the Pacific Northwest, provides locals with about 16,000 jobs and supports many kinds of related industries to thrive, such as the recreational fishing industry. Salmon people and their culture are invaluable treasures and should be protected altogether

Introduction

Findings

Political Analysis

Conclusion