Fighting fish

Marvin J. Entel’s letter in the Sept. 3 Lewiston Tribune, made me laugh (to keep from crying?).

It was a crazy letter because he got the story all backward. He tried to show that the biologists and the tribes share the blame for allowing construction of the three high Hells Canyon dams by Idaho Power that have no fish ladders.

It is as if the Indians and biologists had control of the issue. They did not.

The testimony at congressional hearings before the dams were built show that the tribes and biologists opposed the dams because tests clearly revealed the dams were all too high for traditional (Columbia-style) low-head dam ladders.

The dams should never have been built as far as the fish are concerned. At least they could have been built low enough to accept practical ladders.

Thank you, Marvin, for your concern for the fish. Please hang in there. The fighting fish deserve a fighting chance.

Steven R. Evans

Lapwai