Date of Award

Spring 6-9-2024

Document Type

Thesis (Undergraduate)

Department

Geography

First Advisor

Coleen Fox

Second Advisor

Chris Sneddon

Third Advisor

Frank Magilligan

Abstract

This thesis examines the politics of climate change and dam breach on the Lower Snake River. Located in Southeastern Washington within the Columbia River Basin, the four Lower Snake River dams (LSRD) have long been a source of political and legal controversy. While dam proponents advocate for services that they provide, which includes hydropower, navigation, and irrigation, others contend that their environmental impacts, particularly on salmon and steelhead, make them legally, environmentally, and morally irresponsible. Within this space, I specifically investigate how climate change has influenced the environmental politics and conflicts that surrounds dam breaching, further exploring how competing values and power dynamics shape governance and regulatory practices. Utilizing qualitative methodologies rooted in human geography, I conducted semi-structured interviews with 30 stakeholders, including environmental organizations, industry leaders, and representatives from state and Tribal governments, effectively capturing a range of perspectives on the LSRD conflict. Drawing on concepts from political ecology, science and technology studies, and knowledge controversies, this thesis’ focus on climate change adds to existing scholarship on the politics of dam removal, offering insights into the complex interplay of science and politics that drive contested dam removal efforts. Key findings indicate that while there is consensus on the urgent need for climate action, pre-existing perspectives lead to significant disagreement on whether dam breaching is a necessary and effective solution for climate resilience. This research also reveals the role of climate change within the cross-scalar institutional processes that define policy-making processes for federally owned and operated dams.

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