With the Klamath, Yurok and Karuk tribes
seeking removal of four lower dams on the
Klamath River, officials from the
association are working with the tribes to
find a common solution.
“We’re tired of fighting with each other,”
said Troy Fletcher, Yurok tribal member.
The four dams generate 150 megawatts of
power, 1.7 percent of PacifiCorp’s output.
The original
50-year licenses for the dams are
approaching expiration, though they can be
renewed on an annual basis. The tribes
want the dams removed to allow salmon
access to spawning grounds they’ve been
cut off from for years.
Greg Addington, executive director of the
water users association, said all three
groups were meeting about the possible
removal of the dams and the effect it
would have on water and energy issues.
The association isn’t necessarily against
the removal of the dams as long as it
doesn’t result in higher energy rates for
irrigators, he said, and the tribes are
understanding of irrigators’ needs.
An
article published in the Oregonian
newspaper indicated the Keno dam as a dam
that could be removed. Addington said the
water users would not allow that dam to be
removed because its role as an irrigation
source.
“Having an affordable rate is great, but if you don’t have any water, it’s
useless,” he said.
But
leaders from the tribes and association
said dialogue was clear and open between
their organizations and they will continue
to work to resolve the issue as fairly for
everyone involved as possible.
“I think this dam
relicensing has done a lot to bring people
together,” said Craig Tucker, a Karuk
tribal member.
