Proposal to breach Snake River dams prompts praise, concern Updated Feb 08, 2021; Posted Feb 08, 2021 Water moves through a spillway of the Lower Granite Dam on the Snake River near Almota, Washington.AP Facebook Share A new proposal to tear down the four Lower Snake River dams has people agreeing on one thing — the dams’ value to the Northwest region. But many of those who rely on the dams now — to produce low-cost and reliable electricity, to barge farm products for export, to provide irrigation water and for recreation — are dubious despite the plan’s attempts to make them economically whole. U.S. Rep. Mike Simpson of Idaho has proposed breaching the dams and spending $33 billion to dismantle them, build new energy and transportation systems and address the economic impacts of their loss.