“As a Tribal Council, we are not only gravely concerned about the health of the fish, the River, and our people, we are furious—absolutely furious—at the disregard demonstrated by Electron Dam’s owners for the Tribe, its members, and the fish and environment upon which we depend.” This statement issued by the Puyallup tribe is sufficient to know that the Electron Hydro dam is a huge loss to the local environment and should be removed. The obsolete dam has now become a liability for the region. The environmental and health issues that emerge from the polluted dam outweigh its possible benefits.

There are a plethora of factors that signal that the dam should be removed from the river to mitigate environmental hazards. First, there has been a substantial decline in anadromous fish species.

The environmental degradation might put some precious species on the verge of extinction, a loss that can never be repaired. The pollution caused by the dam in the river has badly affected the sustainability of the fish population in the river. Additionally, fish passing through hydraulic turbines of the dam are subject to different forms of stress likely to cause high mortality.

Secondly, a rational reason to remove the dam is irresponsible ownership. It was discovered that the private owner of the dam was illegally using discarded astroturf in the river during summer while it’s up-gradation.

The inexplicable environmental damage has been caused by the irresponsible management of the Electron dam. Vice chairwoman of the Puyallup Tribal Council Sylvia Miller said, “It hurts to see how much damage they are doing to our lands and waters, everyone’s lands and waters.”

Along with several other species, the Puyallup River Watershed is home to the only spring Chinook salmon run in the region. Chinook salmon are a critical food source for endangered orca whales and big fishes. Thus, it is pivotal to shut down the dam completely to conserve the environment for multiple marine species.

Puyallup is one of the most endangered rivers in the country due largely to fishing and the dam's presence. Almost 40% of young Chinook fish are killed while crossing the dam. Such horrific consequences are an eye-opener for everyone that the polluted dam should be removed as its environmental cost is massive.

Additionally, a state study in 2018 by the Orca Task Force on saving endangered orcas described these dams as very detrimental to the Chinook salmon. It could incur a great loss for the Orca whales, who rely on plentiful fish to survive. 

The Puyallup Tribe has been grieving the dam for a long time and has suffered substantial consequences because of the pollution. The Puyallup tribe terms the Electron Dam as a “fish-killing nightmare.” The unhappy tribe is planning to sue the company for endangering the river's Chinook salmon, bull trout, and steelhead population.

Removal of the 116-year-old dam will restore the river to its original run and preserve the environment around it. As a result, the risk of extinction of several valuable species would be reduced, and the Puyallup tribe will sigh in relief.