SEATTLE (AP) — Federal fisheries biologists have told the Army Corps of Engineers it must improve dam operations on the White River east of Tacoma in order to protect endangered salmon.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration released a report Tuesday finding that too many fish, including endangered Puget Sound Chinook salmon, can’t make it safely downstream or to spawning habitat above Mud Mountain Dam near Enumclaw, Wash. The agency outlined a number of fixes.
The corps’ northwestern division commander, Brig. Gen. John Kem, said the corps is committed to improving fish passage at the dam and meeting NOAA’s requirements.
Tribes and conservation groups have raised concerns that tens of thousands of salmon die because of outdated dam operations on White River.
Mud Mountain Dam was built in 1948 and provides flood control for more than 400,000 homes between Buckley and Tacoma.
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