Backlash - Sounds like you have a general mistrust of the fish agencies and government... can't help you with that.

But, don't dismiss clear evidence of the effects of the dams. Yes the numbers are simple... and they paint a clear picture of the dams effects during and after construction. I agree that there are other reasons for having the dams (social and economic values), but in terms of effects to fish the analysis is SIMPLE. Pre and post data shows that they reduced the number of fish by 80-90%. Why? Because they are lethal to instream (nonbarged) juviniles, stressfull for adult migrants, warm the river, change the hydrograph and remove nearly all of the mainstem spawning areas (which the fall chinook used to utilized). These effects on salmon are a reality that should be accepted and instead of debated.