The Spokesman-Review received the federal letter addressed to McGovern as part of a Freedom of Information Act request for documents relating to Snake River salmon recovery. According to the letter, the state offered flow augmentation on the condition that the Deer Flat and Nez Perce claims are dropped. Although he wouldn't comment on any proposed offers from any agencies participating in the mediation, McGovern cautioned against reading too much into any one document. Idaho is not alone in questioning the benefit of flow augmentation. Officials from other states, including the Washington Department of Ecology, have said that the Snake River dams in Washington slow the river so dramatically that they negate most benefits from increased flows.
Environmentalists agree that flow augmentation is a poor substitute for breaching the four dams.
But if the dams aren't breached, then Idaho will have to give up far more water to help salmon than it already does, said Scott Bosse, staff conservation scientist for Idaho Rivers United. In fact, the National Marine Fisheries Service in 1995 called for Snake River water releases of 1 million acre feet, in addition to the 427,000 acre feet already required. In February, groups representing fishermen and environmentalists filed suit against the federal government for not following that mandate. Idaho officials say providing another 1 million acre feet would end irrigation on 800,000 acres. Environmentalists counter that irrigators could get by with less water if they used it more efficiently.