Environmentalists and Indian tribes say the federal government's plan to save threatened and endangered salmon and steelhead runs falls short by not including dam breaching.
But those who support the dams say they are pleased with the plan for now, but would like dam breaching scrapped altogether.
George Frampton, chairman of the White House Council on Environmental Quality, released testimony Wednesday that indicated the decision to breach the dams will not be addressed for at least eight years and the soonest the dams could be removed would be in 10 years.
Frampton was to testify before the Senate subcommittee on water and energy Wednesday but the hearing was canceled. He released his testimony anyway and confirmed news reports the federal government will instead concentrate its salmon recovery efforts on habitat restoration, hatchery reform and harvest restrictions.
Scott Bosse of Idaho Rivers United said environmentalists would sue the government if the plan proceeds without addressing the hydro system. In the meantime Bosse said Idaho Rivers United and other groups would pressure Vice President Al Gore to change the government's recovery strategy.
"If this decision stands, then Al Gore will have committed the environmental crime of the century. This is the type of decision you would expect from James Watt, not Al Gore."
Bosse accused Gore of turning his back on Snake River salmon out of fear that backing breaching would cost him Oregon and Washington in his bid to succeed Clinton as president.
Frank Carroll, spokesman for Potlatch Corp. at Lewiston, said he and others striving to save the dams believe the government is making the right decision. But he said the recovery effort would go smoother without dam breaching lurking in the background.
"If we take dam breaching off the table and concentrate on what we can do to save the fish, then I think we will be far ahead at the end of the decade."
Carroll claims the record return of salmon to the Snake and Columbia rivers this year and improved ocean conditions is proof positive breaching is not necessary to recover the runs.
"All of those things make us feel it's the right decision to take a look at this for 10 years at least."
Samuel N. Penney, chairman of the Nez Perce Tribe's executive committee, said the government's plan of implementing recovery standards that one day could trigger a breaching decision is too little, too late.
"The dwindling status of the fish is perhaps the most accurate 'performance standard' and it indicates that the fish don't have time to wait."
Penney hinted the tribe may pursue a lawsuit against the government when he said a recovery plan that fails to call for breaching would violate the government's treaty with the Nez Perce and other Columbia River Indian tribes.
"The United States has provided no indication that this scheme will honor its legal obligations," he said.
Bosse was less reserved and said environmentalists would definitely sue the government for failing to enforce the Endangered Species Act.
"We are going to fight tooth and nail and use every ounce of energy and every dollar we have in the bank to save these salmon."
The National Marine Fisheries Service plans to release its entire plan for salmon and steelhead recovery in the Columbia River Basin next Thursday.