DAMN OUR DAMS ARE GOOD!
Written by Ryan Smith, Government Affairs Coordinator
Spokane Home Builders Association
The Columbia Basin is a fertile area that offers its residents countless amenities; many of these are eagerly taken advantage of, while others might go unnoticed. A staple of our region is the rich soil that produces some of the best wine in the country. We have access to mountains, lakes, forests, and most importantly, rivers. The Columbia River has been the lifeblood of the region for the Native Populations long before European Settlers arrived, and the river will still serve indispensable purposes for generations to come. Today, the river helps fuel our state’s economy. Two of Washington’s top industries are Tech and Agriculture; both rely on the Columbia River, as well as her tributaries.
The Snake River in particular offers farmers of the region easily accessible, affordable water to irrigate their crops. In addition to aiding in the growth of plants, irrigated land is actually valued higher than dry farmlands. In our region, irrigated farmland is worth six times as much. Roughly 50,000 acres of farmland rely on reservoirs created by the Snake River and her dams. Now, our Tech industry is not as reliant upon the river as our agricultural industry is, but it also still reaps the benefits of the power generated by these dams.
Hydroelectricity is clean, renewable, and easily dispatchable. Most importantly, hydroelectricity allows consumers to pay much less for utilities than other states in the country. This cheaper energy acts as an incentive for larger companies to set up shop due to a lower overhead fee.
Tech and Agriculture are not the only industries to benefit from our Rivers and the dams. Transportation, recreation, cruising, and tourism all profit off of this unique Dam Industry that we have here in the Pacific Northwest.
Millions of dollars are brought in each year, and, should anything happen, the cost to try and replace these avenues of revenue could cost billions of dollars to build. Let us just take a moment to acknowledge all the financial and social benefits that our rivers provide, and reflect on the logistical and financial burden that would be placed upon the citizens of Spokane and the PNW if the dams that make this all possible were removed from our region.
