The history of the dams is revealed through archival film clips that depict the economic conditions before and after the dams were completed. We tour Bonneville Dam to see how power is produced and distributed. We also visit an aluminum refinery to see how aluminum is made. The complex interrelationships between inexpensive electricity generated by hydropower, the aluminum industry and salmon runs is a central theme of the project. The dams provide benefits beyond power production.
Movies describe the role of that the dams play in flood control, navigation and irrigation.
For example, Lewiston, Idaho is a seaport located 900 miles inland. Its barge industry is totally dependent upon the reservoirs created by the dams. We tour Sawtooth Fish Hatchery in Idaho to see how salmon are captured, spawned and their progeny released to return to the sea. A recent proposal to take four of the dams located on the Lower Snake out of service has met with strong industry opposition. Data is presented to allow you to evaluate whether the benefits of the dams outweigh their environmental impacts.