Dear HCN,
Ed Marston’s visit to the
Teton Dam disaster, described in his “Truth telling” essay (HCN,
9/25/00: Truth-telling needs a home in the West), reminded me of my
involvement with that dam. In 1971, Gov. Cecil Andrus appointed me
as the token environmentalist to the Idaho Water Resource Board. We
soon thereafter visited the potential dam site and heard from the
boosters. Using economic data prepared by now Rep. Ken Robinson,
who was then editor of the Idaho Statesman, I
made some public statements opposing the Teton Dam, including a
letter written on water board stationery, for which I got into a
heap of trouble.
The project proceeded with the
water board endorsement. The Idaho Water Resource Board had also
joined with the Oregon Water Resource Board to support another dam
in Hells Canyon. In about 1975, the Oregon board withdrew its
support.
I put together a little satirical piece
about a “half-vast project” in which only the Idaho half of the dam
would be built, but it would still be a great tourist attraction
plus providing all those dollars in construction.
Not very long after, the Teton Dam collapsed.
Sometime later the Bureau of Reclamation built the parking lot that
the article mentioned and the visitor center which we subsequently
visited. It seemed to me as if the Bureau of Reclamation had
delivered my half-vast project. I am sorry to learn that it hasn’t
kept up as a major attraction.
Scott
W. Reed
Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
This article appeared in the print edition of the magazine with the headline One half-vast dam.
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