While we love hydropower stories, we know that dams serve a multitude of purposes. In fact, many dams generate no power whatsoever. And, likewise, the community-owned, not-for-profit utilities that serve the Northwest offer more than energy. What remains the same is the universal commitment to environmental stewardship and collaborative solutions that benefit all. Today, we explore the story behind the non-powered Howard Hanson dam and the effort to bring fish passage to it–allowing salmon to return to spawning habitat in the Green River. To tell that story, we connected with the interim superintendent of Tacoma Water, Heather Pennington, to get the full scoop on this huge win for salmon.

To learn more about the project's progress from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, start your journey here.