Water Resources Development Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. RISCH. Madam President, I rise today to convey my support for the Columbia River Federal Power System. The congressionally-authorized Federal dams on the Columbia River System bring unparalleled benefits to the Pacific Northwest and stand as an example to other hydropower projects worldwide. The system's capacity to generate always-on, baseload carbon-free power is vital to the Northwest. As many other parts of the country have experienced rolling blackouts, the dams in the Columbia Basin have consistently kept the lights on.

In the Northwest, we enjoy numerous other benefits from this infrastructure, including flood control, irrigation, navigation, and recreation. Due to its remarkable lock and dam system, even my landlocked home State of Idaho benefits from a seaport, sending Idaho's agricultural and manufactured products around the world in a cost- effective, low-carbon manner. As additional challenges have risen, scientists and managers at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have adapted under the direction of Congress to ensure the dams are still simultaneously beneficial to humans and our natural environment.

It is due to these important considerations that I speak on the Water Resources Development Act before the Senate today. Among a list of studies that can generally be measured in acres or at most counties is a sweeping and far-reaching study directed at aquatic habitat restoration in the Columbia River Basin. The Columbia River Basin spans nearly 260,000 square miles over seven States. This is not just another small, localized review, but instead authorizes an exhaustive study on aquatic restoration in one of the largest basins in the country.

I have long supported improving salmon and steelhead populations in the Northwest. In fact, I worked tirelessly with colleagues on both sides of the aisle to pass legislation--ultimately supported by the entire Northwest delegation--to address the predation that was devastating salmon populations before they had a chance to go upriver. However, what I cannot support are the constant efforts to remove the benefits provided by our hydropower system under the guise of salmon recovery or ``aquatic restoration.''

We have studied this river and these dams ad nauseam. Most recently, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers completed the 3-year Columbia River System Operations review, which intentionally and specifically considered whether dam breaching was necessary for fish recovery and determined the opposite. It has been proven, time and again, salmon and hydropower dams do, can, and should coexist. It is futile and irresponsible to spend further taxpayer dollars considering dam breaching. But this reality has not prevented the administration or other political actors from continually pushing against the intent of Congress to protect both the species and the numerous benefits from the Columbia River Federal Power System.

With this in mind, let us revisit the ecosystem study in title II. I deeply appreciate the chairman and ranking member's attention to this issue and work to create suitable limitations to ensure this study will be held strictly to the congressionally authorized purposes of the system and considerations that would maintain the energy, flood control, navigation, irrigation, and other benefits it currently provides. While I still regard this study as too far-reaching and unfocused to result in timely proposals for anadromous fish recovery-- yet again wasting taxpayer dollars better utilized elsewhere in the region--with this vital check, I am able to support this version of WRDA overall and the many essential water infrastructure priorities contained within it. Should this proposed study be signed into law, I will take special notice and trust that it meets congressional intent of preserving the Columbia River Federal Power System, all of its current infrastructure as authorized by Congress, and its innumerable benefits.

Despite political maneuvering from the administration, it is an irrefutable fact that decisions regarding the Columbia River Federal Power System are solely the responsibility of Congress. I look forward to continue working with my colleagues to identify solutions to salmon recovery that do not inhibit the clean energy, flood control, navigation, agricultural, and recreation benefits of our Federal Power System.

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