New Dam to rival the Grand Coulee may be built in Wash. St.

[The Duchess of Zeon]

6.5 million already appropriated for initial feasability studies.

This would be the penultimate sea-change in our philosophy of public works projects, and, really, a very needed one. If we're going to be spending so much bloody government money, why aren't we doing it on major infrastructure improvement projects like this? That's the question that must really be asked; since projects like this improve the overall prosperity of the country, instead of just ending up as handouts.

The potential benefits are massive, and the downsides are negligible. It's time we took government money back to appropriate government projects, and improving the yield of our agricultural land is something that can be generally benefited from in a real and lasting way. It really is quite exciting to know that even merely the studies for this project are being done; it means that there is a real chance for this sea change, and we need it.

[phongn]

That's one impressive dam.

[Tsyroc]

Instead of blocking a river, the so-called Black Rock Dam would create a lake in the middle of nowhere, which politically savvy supporters insist could stave off a Yakima Basin water crisis.

The lake would funnel water to farmers whose irrigation canals now drain two-thirds of the Yakima River at times of the year when struggling fish need water most. And in a river where dams and irrigation have helped shrink salmon numbers from nearly a million to 10,000, supporters believe the dam could actually help bring the fish back to the Yakima.

Before reading the article I was thinking, "great, lets screw up the environment of the Pacific Northwest some more and see if we can kill off a few more salmon species". After reading the article this dam actually seems like a good idea .

There are still potential problems though (besides finding the money and actually building it).

But unanswered questions are huge.

For example, the National Marine Fisheries Service would have to determine if the Columbia — closed to new water withdrawals — could handle more water being removed, even during peak flows of winter and spring runoff. And that water would come from above the biologically rich Hanford Reach, the last free-flowing stretch of the Columbia.

Because returning salmon locate streams based on water chemistry, there's concern that putting Columbia River water into the Yakima River Basin could cause fish heading to places as far away as Methow River tributaries to wander off course.

"If substantial amounts of Black Rock water spills into the Yakima through irrigation-return drains, chances increase that upper Columbia River fish will turn into the Yakima," said John Easterbrooks, Fish and Wildlife's regional fish-program manager.

The study also must gauge whether the basalt layer is too porous to efficiently hold water, and whether game managers could replace lost migration corridors for elk, mule deer and sage grouse. Scientists and engineers would have to determine whether a dam burst, however unlikely, would flood groundwater contaminated with a stew of radioactive waste 20 miles away at the Hanford nuclear reservation, putting people or the Columbia at risk.

Still, I have to agree with the Duchess. It's good that the government is once again thinking about spending money on infrastructure and related projects.

[Col. Crackpot]

impressive. although i predict that nutjobs from ELF and PETA will try and sabotoge it.

[Gil Hamilton]

impressive. although i predict that nutjobs from ELF and PETA will try and sabotoge it.

I predict uncomfortable prison cells for them if they try, in this day and age, the construction of that thing will have security like a fortress.

[Col. Crackpot]

impressive. although i predict that nutjobs from ELF and PETA will try and sabotoge it.

I predict uncomfortable prison cells for them if they try, in this day and age, the construction of that thing will have security like a fortress.

try to sabotage.

[RedImperator]

The infrastructure in this country is getting creaky. We need to cough up the money to repair it.

Incidentially, infrastructure repair is basically Dennis Kucinich's one sane idea ouside of marijuana decriminalization.

[Howedar]

New dam? Good.

[Sea Skimmer]

impressive. although i predict that nutjobs from ELF and PETA will try and sabotoge it.

Which is why will just have to build it as a solid earth and clay dam, lets see them knock holes in something literally a mile wide, and do the work 24/7 using armored D11 bulldozers.

[Sharp-kun]

I wonder what would happen if it burst..... :S

[Howedar]

About the same thing as if your car turned into a fire-breathing monster.

In other words: such an event is so wildly improbable that you really don't need to worry about it.

[CaptainChewbacca]

It bodes well for the future. If we can get this dam built, maybe a few other 'impossible' things will seem possible. Like a bridge across the Bering strait.

[Howedar]

Now that one might well never happen. Where's the demand?

[Andrew J.]

This would be the penultimate sea-change in our philosophy of public works projects, and, really, a very needed one.

Dare I ask what the ultimate sea-change would be?

[Dahak]

Still smaller than the Three Gorges Dam of China

[The Duchess of Zeon]

Dare I ask what the ultimate sea-change would be?

Building a totally new nuclear reactor. A breeder.

[Tsyroc]

Still smaller than the Three Gorges Dam of China

and everyone knows that dam hasn't screwed anything up.

[Dahak]

Still smaller than the Three Gorges Dam of China

and everyone knows that dam hasn't screwed anything up.

They're still building it. Give them time

[Tsyroc]

and everyone knows that dam hasn't screwed anything up.

They're still building it. Give them time [/quote]

I wasn't sure if they were finished yet. So that means the gorges are still there...for a little while longer.

[BlkbrryTheGreat]

and everyone knows that dam hasn't screwed anything up.

They're still building it. Give them time

I wasn't sure if they were finished yet. So that means the gorges are still there...for a little while longer.[/quote]

I thought they were already filling the reseviour at this point...

[Sea Skimmer]

I thought they were already filling the reseviour at this point...

Yeah, they are, the dam has been completed for some time though IIRC the associated power station, which can't operate until the reservoir has filled, is still under construction.

[CaptainChewbacca]

Now that one might well never happen. Where's the demand?

A bridge across the Bering Strait would make available an oil pipleline from Asia to North America, and also reduce shipping costs from US-Japan by 30%.

[Asst. Asst. Lt. Cmdr. Smi]

Now that one might well never happen. Where's the demand?

A bridge across the Bering Strait would make available an oil pipleline from Asia to North America, and also reduce shipping costs from US-Japan by 30%.

I think I saw something about that on the Discovery Channel. Although, IIRC, it would cost billions to research, design, and build.

[CaptainChewbacca]

Its already researched and designed, but the building would cost more than any bridge yet built. The problem is they'd have to prefab in Seattle, and ship the stuff up during the summer. It would take 5 or 7 years.

It wouldn't cost as much as the Coulee dam, though .

[Robert Treder]

Dare I ask what the ultimate sea-change would be?

Building a totally new nuclear reactor. A breeder.

I think what Andrew was pointing out was that you misused the word "penultimate" which means "next to last."