Photo credits to J.D. Andrews on Unsplash.
Constructed in the 1960s and 1970s, the lower Snake River dams lie near the confluence of the Columbia River, the longest river in the Pacific Northwest, and the Snake River, which flows from Idaho into Washington. These dams in southeastern Washington have served a variety of notable roles, including flood control, navigation, irrigation, recreation, transport, and hydropower. However, they have greatly contributed to the loss of different populations, namely those of Chinook salmon and southern resident orcas.
The Snake River Climate Justice group was created as a part of the Rapid Response Group under MIT’s Environmental Solutions Initiative to investigate broader arguments and current discourse regarding dam removal, salmon protection, and other regional conservation work over the summer of 2023.
We would like to give special thanks to our partners, Se’Si’Le, Sierra Club Washington State, Solutionary Rail, and Backbone Campaign for their constant support and guidance.