Water Power and
Environmental Concerns
Today
The use of water as a resource for generating power is a highly controversial issue today. The necessity of providing a safe environment for endangered salmon must be addressed, however the Snake River dams supply 5% of the power for the northwestern United States, approximately the amount that would meet the power needs of Seattle. Computer modeling techniques show that these dams are destroying the migratory fish population. Facing a similar problem, a small hydropower dam in Maine closed in 1998 to preserve Atlantic salmon and other fish.

Illustration from:
U.S.G.S. Map of Washington, 1990. Accessed through the Washington State section of the Perry Castenada Library Maps Collection.