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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 29, 2020)
A3 THE ASTORIAN • SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 29, 2020 Feds reject breaching Snake River dams Child care: A lot of By DON JENKINS Capital Press 26 Area in detail 261 WHITMAN 127 Little Goose Dam 260 ke Riv er Lower Granite Dam Ice Harbor Dam na 395 FRANKLIN S Pomeroy Tu c annon 12 Lower Monumental Dam GARFIELD R. 12 WALLA WALLA Dayton 124 . b ia R Touchet Ri ve Pasco lum A federal report released Friday rejects breaching four l ower Snake River dams in southeast Washington state, fi nding it would raise transportation and produc- tion costs for farmers, while also increasing greenhouse gases, raising electric rates and making the Northwest more vulnerable to power blackouts. The draft environmental impact statement, conducted jointly by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Bonne- ville Power Administration and Bureau of Reclamation, drew immediate criticism from environmental groups that advocate breaching the dams to increase fi sh runs. The study considered removing earth on the sides of Ice Harbor, Lower Mon- umental, Little Goose and Lower Granite dams. Breaching the dams would have the most benefi ts for endangered salmon, accord- ing to the study, and several Indian tribes said it was the best option for offsetting the river system’s harm to treaty rights. But breaching would not allow federal operators to meet the congressional man- date to maintain the dams for navigation, hydropower and irrigation, according to the WASH. Co COLUMBIA r 125 Walla Walla 12 College Place 730 Wash. Ore. 11 10 miles Wash. Ore. Capital Press graphic report. “It also has the high- est adverse impacts to other resources, especially social and economic effects,” the report states. New congressio- nal authority and funding would be needed to breach the dams, according to the report. The study looked at the entire Columbia River hydropower system, made up of 14 federally con- trolled dams and reservoirs in Washington state, Oregon, Idaho and Montana. The report’s preferred alternative on operating the system includes modify- ing some fi sh-passage struc- tures. S pilling more water over dams would also benefi t endangered runs of salmon and steelhead in the l ower Columbia and Snake rivers, according to the report. Friday’s release opens another round of public com- ment on the dams’ future. The comment period will close April 13. The Center for Biological Diversity issued a statement accusing the report of giv- ing “short shrift to the only viable alternative for saving salmon and ultimately orcas — removing the four lower Snake River dams.” The organization said it will seek one million sig- natures from supporters of removing the four dams. The report itself acknowl- edged the matter wasn’t settled. “This EIS is not expected to end the regional debate on the future of the four lower Snake River dams. On the contrary, this EIS provides information and analysis to inform that future dialogue,” the report states. Breaching the dams would have major long-term benefi ts to fi sh in the Snake River because of improved rearing and migration condi- tions, according to the draft . Estimating the number of fi sh that would survive and return to spawn is diffi cult because of the uncertainty of ocean survival, the draft states. Drawing down the water behind the dams could expose 14,000 acres that are currently underwater. The long-term goal would be to return the river to its natural state, benefi ting tribal fi sh- ing, gathering and occupa- tion, according to the report. The report warned of high economic and environmen- tal costs that would be felt throughout the Northwest. Breaching the dams would approximately dou- ble the region’s chances of a power blackout — to nearly once every seven years, the report estimates. The power could be replaced by more natural gas-generated electricity, but that would increase the emissions of power-related greenhouse gases by 10% in the Northwest and would cost about $1 billion a year, or one-third of BPA’s reve- nue , the report states Eateries: Developers will also go through a conditional use process Continued from Page A1 Five Guys, founded and headquartered in Vir- ginia, has more than 1,500 locations in 19 countries. The closest location is in Longview, Washington. MOD Pizza, founded in Seattle and headquartered in Bellevue, Washington, has more than 400 locations in the U.S. and United King- dom. After raising more than $160 million in investment capital last year, the com- pany hopes to reach 1,000 locations in the next four years. Baysinger Partners expects a majority of cus- tomers to access the new restaurants from E. Harbor Drive, with Neptune Drive on the south end of the plaza a secondary access. Warrenton, focused on avoiding traffi c backups at drive-thrus like those around Wendy’s near the intersection of Ensign Lane and High- way 101, required Baysinger Partners to perform a queu- ing analysis for the Chipo- tle. Baysinger, after moni- toring similar restaurants in Hazel Dell, Washington, esti- mated a maximum of six cars waiting , with online ordering making the operation much more effi cient for traffi c movement. The city will also make the developers go through a con- ditional use process. Kevin Cronin, the city’s community development director, said he pulled the process from DEL’S O.K. TIRE Astoria’s development code. “It’s what we call an alter- natives analysis,” Cronin said. “So you have to prove that this is the right location.” Baysinger proposed a diagonally striped box directing drivers not to block the intersection on Harbor Drive between the drive- ways to the Old Youngs Bay Plaza and Shilo Inn. Cronin said the city has suggested a divider on Harbor Drive and only allowing drivers to turn right into or out of the plaza. local, state partners working on solutions Continued from Page A1 “And that’s where, in my belief, it really is crit- ical to have state and or federal fi nancial assistance to meet the need because it is something that directly affects the economy,” he said. “And it is some- thing where it would be an appropriate use of fed- eral and state tax dollars to provide support to ease the burden so there is adequate child care available. ” Kevin Leahy, the exec- utive director of Clatsop Economic Development Resources, said pri- vate providers need sup- port from the state or fed- eral governments that can allow them to be compet- itive and stay in the indus- try they love. He said regional busi- ness and educational experts are “providing training for these owners so that they’re aware of how to navigate through all the different hoops they need to jump through on the regulation side. ” Leahy said the cost to run a child care facility can become even more expen- sive when owners don’t know how to navigate regu- lations. “It’s very, very dif- fi cult to make it pencil out when you have all those other barriers around that,” he said. However, he said there are a lot of local and state partners working on solutions. “This is a fast-growing industry. So I think if we can fi nd a way to think out of the box and be like a pro- totype ... for the state and for the federal government ... I think we would have a lot of willing partners in that,” Leahy said. A child care task force was formed last year to SUNDAY help spur more day care and preschool options in the county. Amy Love- lace, the regional preschool planning lead at the North- west Early Learning Hub, brought together more than 30 partners. But grant funding for her position runs out at the end of the month, and monthly meetings have been paused as the task force looks for someone who can step up and lead the group. County C ommissioner Lianne Thompson, who represents the Board of Commissioners on the task force, said it has been lim- ited in the same way other initiatives are limited in the county. “We’re so thin on resources, we can’t afford the staff to do the develop- ment that has to happen to get us more resources,” she said. In the meantime, Love- lace plans on conduct- ing listening sessions with child care providers to learn what they need to keep their doors open. “What Clatsop County is experiencing, we’re experiencing everywhere,” she said. “We see child care clos- ing because people who start child care start it because they love children, and they want to support families. They don’t nec- essarily have the business skills,” she said. Lovelace and Thomp- son said to move forward they will need support from the state and federal governments. “The community needs to own it. And I mean the broader community — local, county, state, federal — we have to own it. This nation has not owned it the way European nations have owned it,” Thompson said. AFTERNOON Live Join us for the following upcoming performances! Visit our website at sundayafternoonlive.org for updates on more performances to come! All concerts start at 2pm. The High Kings March 29th, 2020 Rousing & Reflective, energetic & insightful Irish ballad music! Del Thompson, former owner of OK Rubber Welders. Sarah Hagen Klyde Thompson, owner of Del’s OK Tire Point S Tire and Auto Service, uses Nokian All-Weather Tires on his personal vehicles. Nokian tires offer superb handling on wet or dry summer roads and superior grip in wintry conditions. Get the best of both roads with Nokian All-Weather Tires for safety and carefree driving comfort. April 26th, 2020 The “Perk Up Pianist”! YOUR #1 SOURCE FOR TIRES (503) 325-2861 35359 Business 101, Astoria MON - FRI 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM SAT 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM pointstire.com/astoria Thanks to our Sponsors: Sherry Aust Beryl Adams Thrivent Financial Will Martin CUSTOM WHEELS AUTOMOTIVE SERVICES Over 72 years of the Thompson family putting you first! Thanks to our Sponsors: Evers Electric Seaquest Motel Security State Bank Bayshore Realty Willapa Veterinary vice May 10th, 2020 The voice you must hear to believe! Thanks to our Sponsors: Ena Bale Janet Furiord in Memory of Don Furfiord Cecelia Seaman In the HISTORIC RAYMOND THEATRE Buy advance tickets at: www.sundayafternoonlive.org or by phone (360) 836-4419 PO Box 964, South Bend, WA. 98586
