Dam Removal Uncertain In Proposed Klamath Settlement

Cartoon published by Sacramento Bee, Artist Rex Babin

The Oregon-based utility PacifiCorp, government agencies, non-governmental organizations, and Native American Tribes are releasing a draft settlement agreement on Wednesday, September 30 that could lead to the removal of four hydroelectric dams on the Klamath River and restoration of the river’s once fabled salmon runs.

But the defining characteristic of the complex 130-page agreement is “could.”
“Although an important step towards restoration of the Klamath River, the draft settlement provides little certainty that PacifiCorp’s fish-killing and polluting dams will be removed by the proposed target date of 2020,” said Steve Evans, Conservation Director of the California-based statewide river conservation organization Friends of the River.

“It’s going to take a lot more work and effort by all parties to ensure that the dams are actually removed and the Klamath River salmon are restored in our lifetime,” Evans said.

In addition to failing to guarantee removal of the Klamath River dams, Friends of the River noted that the draft settlement provides broad liability protection for PacifiCorp against future lawsuits (even in circumstances where PacifiCorp could be negligent), and will rely on the multi-million dollar appropriations from the State of California and the federal government to implement dam removal and river restoration.

“California budget cuts have caused drastic cutbacks in public safety, health, education, and environmental programs. It doesn’t seem possible that the state will have the money any time soon to help implement the restoration project,” Evans said.
Despite its flaws, Friends of the River will seriously consider signing the proposed settlement agreement.

“If we don’t sign the agreement, we won’t be at the table to protect the public interest and advocate for swift removal of the dams,” Evans said

Quakes, 1% and Beautiful Fish

A few more odds and ends...

• Dams = another reason that dams are just not such a bright idea in many cases, that big quake in China may have been triggered in part by that big dam they just built. This is something we've known about for a long time and is one of the reasons why the Auburn Dam was first put on hold.
• 1% for the Planet is a very good idea, created by some very good people, talked about on a very nice bit of Montana trout fishing water and shot by some great film makers. Check it out.
• There is a trout/fish guru that lives up in Dunsmuir that not only knows how to catch fish, he knows how to capture them in sculpture. Fred Gordon has donated to our California River Awards auctions for several years and his sculptures are always hot items. See his work here.

From the desk of Bjorn - Development Director and resident fish lover.