Rail and highway investing will benefit farmers, fishermen and communities throughout the Northwest

With the right investments we can transport grain and other goods efficiently and affordably without the lower Snake River barge corridor.

Investing in modern rail and highway investments can provide a transportation system that meets the needs of eastern Washington wheat farmers, gives the Inland Northwest a competitive edge in attracting new businesses, and allows for the recovery of wild salmon to self-sustaining, harvestable numbers.

Save Our Wild Salmon along with coalition partner groups have engaged in a constructive dialogue with farmers to explore ways we can keep farmers farming and fishermen fishing, including discussing transportation options that can make lower Snake River barging unnecessary.

Eastern Washington farmers

The four lower Snake River dams originally were built to create a seaport in Lewiston, Idaho, 435 miles from the ocean. Today, wheat, barley, and other goods are shipped through Lewiston, Clarkston and other ports along the river downstream to Port of Portland for export overseas.

Efficient and affordable transportation alternatives must be developed if the lower Snake River dams are removed. Clarkston, WA and Lewiston, ID would no longer be seaports and rail lines and highway improvements would replace the 140-mile Snake River barge corridor.

These transportation investments will allow farmers to send grain to Pasco, WA for barge transport down the Columbia River and provide more options for shipping to new domestic or overseas markets available via Puget Sound ports.

Better transportation and shipping for eastern Washington

In the decades since the last lower Snake River dam was built in 1975, the Inland Northwest has lost hundreds of miles of vital rail lines to abandonment and disrepair. This lack of infrastructure impacts businesses that do not use the Snake River barge corridor.

Many businesses and manufacturers require rail or highway transport, or must send their products elsewhere-Puget Sound ports, regional markets like Spokane, or even to the east coast. In particular the loss of rail infrastructure has hurt the economies of towns like Clarkston, Lewiston, Moscow and Pullman.

Business leaders in Spokane, WA (the largest city in the Inland Northwest) are exploring expansion of the rail hub in Spokane to better connect with surrounding towns and communities. Other regional leaders are planning ahead for future population growth by considering passenger rail from Spokane south to Pullman.

Throughout the Inland Northwest, local farmers and businesses are already pushing for much-needed rail and highway infrastructure. Working Snake River for Washington partners support securing these investments to both benefit the region now and to prepare for the potential removal of the four lower Snake River dams.

Replacing barge transportation makes economic sense

Independent transportation studies have shown that replacing the barge transportation is both doable and affordable. A 2003 study by BST Associates concluded that necessary transportation upgrades would cost between $230 million and $1 billion. Even the high-end estimate is affordable when the billions of dollars already spent on failed salmon recovery efforts-and the billions slated to be spent in the coming years-are taken into account.

In addition, the reservoir behind Lower Granite dam is filling with silt. The silt is reducing the capacity of Port of Lewiston and will require costly dredging, building of levees, and other measures if the dams stay in place.

Investing in the Inland Northwest economy

Investments in highways and rail lines would bring enormous economic benefits to eastern Washington and north Idaho. The value of a modern shipping system is well worth trading out four outmoded and expensive dams, above and beyond the substantial economic benefits of restored salmon and steelhead fisheries.

The right salmon recovery solution is directly linked to building a future transportation system that benefits farmers, businesses, towns, and the salmon of the Inland Northwest. With political leadership and community involvement we can restore wild salmon and provide the region with the transportation system it must have to be economically competitive in this country and in global markets.