[Steve_Seattle]

"efforts to recover the Northwest’s iconic salmon runs"

Most of these dams have been in place for decades, but the problem with the salmon runs is recent, within the past ten years. This topic came up a couple of years ago, and I think the problem with the dwindling salmon runs is that their natural predators (Orca whales, sea lions) are protected, so they are eating more of the salmon than they used to.

[ConjunctionJunction]

The biggest problem seems to be too many seals, who are eating too many salmon.