Agimarc - there is no "portion of the watershed that would be harmed", this river flows to the ocean as all rivers do.  The following systems, from the Snow River all the way to the ocean, will be changed irreperably by a dam: sedimentation, turbidity, minerals and nutrients, water temperatures, etc.  All of these elements affect the salmon life cycle, as well as other mammals who rely on water and food.  This dam, if built, would change everything and I suspect CEA knows that.  They were just sticking their toe in the water so to speak.  They knew this wasn't going to fly.