This article has been reprinted from the Jan. 16 USDA Grain Transportation Report.
The Lower Snake River Dams (LSRD) Stakeholder Engagement Report (online draft here) aims to represent all stakeholder perspectives on how removing the lower Snake River dams in southeast Washington will affect salmon, orcas, and agricultural and transportation interests.
The current draft notes that, if the LSRD are breached, the Snake River will not be deep enough to sustain barge traffic.
This situation would increase shipping costs and negatively affect the barging of dryland wheat and the overall grain economy.
Written comments for this draft report will be accepted at public workshops and online until January 24, 2020.