Armchair Engineer

08/24/2026

Grand Coulee Dam, the dam that won World War II

08/21/2026

The 4 Ways Juvenile Salmon Get Past a Dam

08/20/2026

I think it's great to highlight the economic value of salmon runs to small communities. The ripple effect on tourism, hospitality dollars, and the overall vitality of towns like Riggins, ID is substantial and should be supported.

Likewise, the likely economic impacts of dam removal should not be discounted. When industries that utilize the rivers are disrupted, it has a ripple effect across communities. Family farms shut down, businesses close, and the well-being of tens of thousands of people is reduced. If the LSRDs were removed, small towns hundreds of miles from the river would be negatively affected.

Fortunately, much more could still be done to support rebuilding runs of salmon in Idaho, including habitat restoration, adding fish passage on dams that don't currently have it, and reducing predation. If we work smarter and not harder, we could see substantial gains in the number of returning adults to the Riggins area every year!

When the salmon don't come home, rural river towns in Idaho lose out.

Roy Akins, owner of Rapid River Outfitters in Riggins, ID, writes about the financial impacts his community has been experiencing this year due to the record low salmon returns.

Read here:
https://www.idahostatesman.com/opinion/readers-opinion/article316882733.html

Photo by Elliott Natz

08/19/2026

Colorado River Compact, part 5

08/18/2026

Hanging out at my favorite dam and swimming in my favorite reservoir.

08/17/2026

Colorado River Compact, part 4

08/14/2026

Colorado River Compact, part 3

08/12/2026

Ever wondered why my channel is called Armchair Engineer? Here's the answer.

08/11/2026

Would you go down this "water slide"? Probably not. But it's supposedly good for juvenile salmon?

08/10/2026

The Colorado River Compact - Part 2 - What Does It Say?