Photo via National Geographic
According to National Geographic “For 98 years, the 125-foot high Condit Dam in southeastern Washington State held back the White Salmon River, creating a serene lake, but choking off the waterway to salmon. Wednesday, in an historic effort, the dam was dramatically breached, and ecologists hope the increased flow of water will restore the waterway to fish and other aquatic organisms, as well as the birds and mammals that rely on them.”
This marks a joyful turn of events for those living in the community that have long relied on the salmon for their livelihood. National Geographic stated that according to The Indian Paper “fourteen years had passed since PacifiCorp, the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation and the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission (CRITFC) co-sponsored the studies that showed dam removal could be cost-effective.” The demolition of the dam was also cheered by environmental organizations.
Click here to watch the demolition on National Geographic’s website.
By diane December 6, 2011 - 8:03 am
Fascinating to watch…thanks for sharing.