Booming growth [in west] raises idea of dams

Seattle Timies ^ | March 2, 2008 | Nicholas K. Geranios

[Lorianne]

SPOKANE — The era of massive dam construction in the West — which tamed rivers, swallowed towns and created irrigated agriculture, cheap hydropower and persistent environmental problems — effectively ended in 1966 with the completion of Glen Canyon Dam in Arizona.

But a booming population and growing fears about climate change have governments once again studying dams, this time to create huge reservoirs to capture more winter rain and spring snowmelt for use in dry summer months.

New dams are being studied in Washington, California, Oregon, Idaho, Colorado, Nevada and other states, even as dams are being torn down across the country over environmental concerns — worries that will likely pose big obstacles to new dams.

"The West and the Northwest are increasing in population growth like never before," said John Redding, regional spokesman for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation in Boise. "How do you quench the thirst of the hungry masses?"

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

Dang. I always thought it would take an invasion from outer space to wake up the Liberals.

[goodnesswins]

"Gov. Christine Gregoire put together a coalition of business, government and environmental groups to create the Columbia River Management Plan, which calls for spending $200 million to study various proposals to find more water for arid Eastern Washington."

Ping to WA State freepers

[rockinqsranch]

“...calls for spending $200 million to study...”

Anymore, that’s what it’s all about. A big pot of taxpayer money to share with their buddies.

[Cicero]

Nah, don’t worry. First they’ll build the dams at taxpayer expense, and then they’ll tear them down at taxpayer expense.

Makes sense, because then they get double the kickbacks from the contractors.

[DaveArk]

Every dime should be spent on desalination plants. Don’t waste money on studies, just do it.

[television is just wrong]

gotta throw out the environment crap.

people have come here for a better life

gotta give it to them.

[buffaloKiller]

“Don’t waste money on studies, just do it.”

Quite the point !! Dams will do more to hold back water but the main idea is to shut the enviroNazis DOWN and get on with what makes sense for HUMAN survival. Where I’m at (far N.Idaho) more water retension dams makes good sense as opposed to hydroElectric dams. Easier to contruct and less controversy.
Either way, shut the enviroNazis DOWN NOW !!
So that we may all survive the waterWars. Better we live on than our enemies!!

[Big Horn]

We do not have water for the dams we have built. I think we should quit building golf courses.

[umgud]

Dang. I always thought it would take an invasion from outer space to wake up the Liberals.

Don't count on it. The dems have given far too much power to the enviro whacko's. Dams aren't gonna happen.

[Myrddin]

The dam at American Falls has a small hydroelectric capacity. The next big dam upstream is Palisades. Locals familiar with the dams say that if Palisades fails, the hammer of water released would easily breach American Falls. The folks downstream would be in for a real nasty surprise. We probably need another intermediate retention and/or hydroelectric dam on the Snake between those two dams.

Utah has a similar problem with dams that protect the flatlands down near Provo. If an earthquake breached the dam above Provo, the downstream dams would be easily breached. It would be a major league flood.

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

Dis you see any of the Democrat talking heads discussing the primary campaign today? They reminded me of Sollozzo’s statement in the Godfather, before he was shot in the head: “You think too much of me, kid - I'm not that clever.”

[RainMan]

Aw man, and here I thought dams were carbon producing monstrosities that are not even a renewable source of electricity ... I mean ... my state told me that last year ... didn’t they?????? Dam ... its back to the re-education camp for me AGAIN!

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

That would be more in character.

[steelyourfaith]

" ...growing fears about climate change ...

Arf.

 

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[cherry]

for those not in the West, the strongest push is to take all the dams down, per wish of the Indians to restore native fish, the hell with irrigation and energy..

Queen Gregorie simply wants another RAt commission to okay tax increases ....

[cherry]

not only are dams not going to happen, but whatever dams remain after the Rats get thru buttering the behinds of the enviro-whackos, but any “commissions” or studies are just conduits so more water can be sold to California or Arizona.....

[endthematrix]

Just dams ping...

[marsh2]

We have a big battle going on about ripping out four dams on the Klamath River. http://www.klamathbasincrisis.org/Poweranddamstoc/nodams/toc.htm
http://www.klamathbasincrisis.org/ http://www.grange-pfusa.org/index.php
Special interests at either end of the river made an agreement that basically screws the middle and far upper Klamath people and hands out public largess to tribes.

[meadsjn]

The construction of Glen Canyon Dam on the Arizona-Utah border, dedicated in 1966, galvanized the rising environmental movement because the resulting creation of Lake Powell inundated a huge swath of scenic land.

Anyone who believes that sort of wasteland is more scenic than the current lake needs to go soak their head.

[sionnsar]

Thanks to goodnesswins for the ping.

Say WA? Evergreen State ping

FReepmail sionnsar if you want on or off this ping list.

Ping sionnsar if you see a Washington state related thread.

[Paperdoll]

Please keep me on your ping list. Thank you.