GOP lawmakers oppose Snake River dam breaching

SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) — U.S. Rep. Dan Newhouse and numerous other Republican lawmakers have sent a letter opposing the removal of four dams on the Snake River to restore wild runs of salmon.

The lawmakers sent the letter on Thursday to members of the House Appropriations Committee, asking that money be retained in the federal budget to operate the dams. Newhouse represents central Washington.

The House in previous years adopted language that prohibits and use of federal funds to remove any federally-owned or operated dam.

A federal judge recently ordered the government to study breaching the four dams to restore diminished runs of wild salmon.

The four dams are located on the Snake River between the Tri-Cities and Pullman and produce about 5 percent of the electricity in the Northwest.