Doing away with dams
Dams aren't the infrastructure darlings they once were. Since 1999, 430 dams have come down, according to the American Rivers environmental group. The reasons are largely economic: Maintenance is high as the concrete walls age. Also, power needs can be supplied by other sources. The decline of migrating salmon and steelhead are also a factor.
These problems don't mean all dams are doomed or new ones will never be built. Dam defenders note that ...
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Flowing rivers are the veins of life for the ecosystem. The veins have been clogged without evaluation of the harm of dams upon the environment. Removing dams on the upper snake should restore vast areas for salmon spawning. Salmon feed bears, human, orcas, and when they die feed plants and river lifeforms.