I don't know enough about this issue to comment responsibly. You know my predispositions are with the farmers, but I would also prefer that the dam be privately funded.
I'd prefer private funding also. The dam is almost complete, however, and the taxpayer money has been spent...not much cost difference to complete than to blow a whole discribed here (Hmmm....do you suppose we could get the enviro's to use private funds to blow it?? ...nevermind:
"The corps' plan includes removing a v-shaped section of the dam 225 feet wide at the top, 150 feet at the base. This section would be removed down to the level of the original creek bed. In all, 65,000 cubic yards of concrete, enough to build a 12' by 20' patio slab for more than 21,500 homes, would be removed."
How good do you suppose all that concrete silt will be for the "fish".