The Lower Snake River Dams: Powering the Northwest—and Supporting Salmon

Powering Our Communities

The four Lower Snake River Dams generate enough reliable, carbon-free electricity to power about 800,000 homes annually—including many served by Central Lincoln. These hydroelectric dams are also a key part of the Bonneville Power Administration’s power supply, generating about 10% of the electricity BPA provides to public utilities like ours.

More than just power sources, the Lower Snake River Dams are pillars of grid reliability. Their flexible output can ramp up quickly during times of high demand or extreme weather, helping keep energy flowing when it’s needed most.

Built for Flexibility and Resilience

One of the greatest advantages of hydropower is its ability to respond in real time. The Lower Snake River Dams provide crucial grid services like load balancing and voltage support. During heat waves, cold snaps, or other emergencies, they help maintain power and reduce reliance on more expensive or carbon-intensive backup generation.

Progress for Fish and River Health

Graph showing that salmon and steelhead returns have grown more than three times the average since the completion of the Bonneville Dam in 1938. (According to data from the University of Washington's Data Access in Real Time)

According to the University of Washington’s DART database, more than 1.7 million adult salmon and steelhead were counted at Bonneville Dam in 2024—over three times the number recorded in 1938, the dam’s first year of operation.

At Lower Granite Dam—the farthest upstream of the four Lower Snake River Dams—returns have quadrupled since it began operating in 1975. These gains are the result of decades of collaboration among federal, state, and tribal partners to improve fish passage, restore habitat, and modernize hatchery practices.

Today’s fish ladders for upstream migration and improved systems for downstream passage help salmon and steelhead safely complete their journeys to and from the ocean. Juvenile survival rates through the dams now reach into the ninetieth percentile, rivaling those of free-flowing rivers.

Hydropower and salmon can coexist—and they are.

Public Support is Strong

Recent research shows broad backing for hydropower:

  • 3 in 4 Pacific Northwest residents support electricity generated by dams.
  • 76% of Oregonians say they’re more likely to support dams after learning about improvements in salmon populations.
  • Affordability ranks as the top energy concern for residents.

These findings are based on 2024 survey research conducted by Northwest RiverPartners, a member-driven organization representing community-owned utilities, nonprofits, and clean energy advocates.

A Balanced Future

At Central Lincoln, we are committed to providing safe, reliable, and affordable power. Hydropower from the Lower Snake River Dams plays a key role in meeting that mission—supporting a clean energy future while helping preserve what makes the Northwest unique.

To learn more, visit ourpoweriswater.org or nwriverpartners.org.