Court rejects challenge to Snake River dams

BOISE -- Despite a 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruling for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, conservationists say they will continue to press for changes in lower Snake River dams, such as reducing high temperatures migrating salmon and steelhead encounter.

A three-judge panel on Monday ruled 2-1 to uphold a 2003 federal ruling that the Army Corps is meeting legal obligations for operating dams on the lower Snake River in Washington state.

Conservation groups who have challenged the operations contend that the temperature of the river passing through four reservoirs in the summer rises above 68 degrees, which is dangerous to migrating fish.