b'Water availability and quality will also play a majorthat the dams are critical for supplying low-carbon role into the future, especially for the Treasure andhydropower and ecient river navigation to the Magic Valleys. According to a report by the IdahoNorthwest communities that depend on them. Conservation League, According to the EIS, breaching the dams would require massive investments to replace the barging Groundwater quality in the Eastern Snake Plainsystem with rail and trucking infrastructure, would Aquifer (ESPA)southern Idahos most importantseverely impact the cruising industry, and would cut source of drinking wateris declining due too trade access for the regions farmers and severely contamination by the overapplication of fertilizersimpact their ability to move their products eciently and animal waste across the Snake River Plain.and safely. In 2018 alone, more than 38,966 rail Although the ESPA supplies drinking water to overcars or 149,870 trucks would have been needed to 300,000 Idahoans, it is particularly susceptible tomove the cargo that was barged on the Snake River. contamination due to a host of geologic factorsHowever, the EIS also included measures to protect and pollutants from human activities. Of particularendangered sh, including management of invasive concern in this regard is the rapid growth of thespecies, improvements to sh and wildlife habitat, industrialized dairy industry. The estimated 417,000sh hatchery production, and new structural and dairy cows in the Magic Valley (IDA, 2017) produceoperational measures to improve survival of sh as as much manure as a city of 12 million people, orthey pass the dams.15nearly one-and-a-half times the population of New York City. The nitrogen and phosphorus input fromThere are several economic hurdles Idaho must fertilizer and animal waste far exceeds what typicalsurmount to prosper into the future. First, the crops can uptake, and the remainder is susceptiblepolitical culture inhibits the public investments to entering the groundwater. 14 needed to compete in a global economy. In contrast to other periods of history, public investment in This will be a critical issue into the future becauseinfrastructure to support business development is the ESPA is the largest aquifer in Idaho and servesdicult, both economically and politically. Yet public the largest proportion of population and agriculturalvision, investment, and incentives, combined with activity in the state. To address these issues, stricterentrepreneurial initiative, will be necessary to achieve regulation of fertilizer and animal manure applicationa robust economic future. Secondly, there must be should be implemented by the appropriate statea greater availability of private capital. Start-ups and agencies along with industry-wide implementation ofnew technologies typically involve long development best-management practices (e.g., cover crops, residueperiods and require private investment in the early management, no-till planting).14 stages. The centers of technology investment lie to the west (Seattle), to the south (California) and east Another crucial factor to a successful future is(Boston and New York), thus the lack of homegrown eectively maintaining a balance between protectingventure capital funds could be a hindrance. Gaining endangered species and maintaining the Columbiavisibility with external investors can happen but River System. The Port of Lewiston is a valuable meansdoing so necessitates a concerted and coordinated of transporting goods to and from the northerneort.1 And nally, eorts must be made to address half of the state and it is entirely dependent onthe widening gap between urban and rural counties. the Columbia River System. Many have called forZions Bank economist Robert Spendlove stated, The the removal of the four lower Snake River dams,long-term struggle that were seeing is the urban/yet, the nal Columbia River System Operationsrural divide. There is a lot of growth, a lot of prosperity environmental impact statement (EIS) releasedgoing on in urban areas. But rural areas continue to July 31, 2020 and does not recommend the closurestruggle. Were seeing people move out of rural areas. and decommissioning of any of dams. The EIS assertsWere seeing job loss in rural areas.16Economic Outlook 39'