"Gimme a Break"

From Karuk Tribe spokesman Craig Tucker to KBC, 7/10/07 (Tucker bio)

KBC RESPONSE to Gimme a Break by Craig Tucker

I think you are being a little unfair to me on your website re: power rates and dams.

Attached (FOLLOWING) is a letter the Karuk Tribe sent to the CA PUC supporting a phase in of power rate increases under the request of Greg Addington. We also, along with the Yurok and Klamath Tribes, signed on to a letter to FERC requesting that the rate increase be put off a year. Again this was at the request of Greg and KWUA.

Certainly we who depend on fish see the world differently than folks who farm for a living. However, that does not mean we can’t work together to solve problems. It just seems to me that its not fair to imply on your website that I, and the rest of the downriver stakeholders, are the reason your power rates went up. It not only breeds ill will, it’s not true. PacifiCorp is to blame for acting in bad faith with the irrigation community not us.

I fail to appreciate why you, or anyone in Tulelake, has any attachment to the dams at this point. Power regulators have repeatedly stated that removal of the dams will have no affect on power deliveries. We actually seek a removal plan that would replace the power lost anyway through truly renewable sources. To me it looks like the lower four dams do nothing but make your lives more difficult. As salmon runs decline, the end result is typically less fishing for us and more regulations for you. By taking out the dams, salmon runs will improve and therefore less pressure on your community to deal with salmon.

The dams provide no flood control and no diversions for Ag…they just kill fish and breed toxic algae. Help us remove them and in the process we are willing to through our political weight behind support for your communities’ needs. None of us will get everything we want, but only by working together will we achieve stability and create a place where Tribes, fishermen, and farmers can all have vibrant communities with a future.

Yours is a strong voice in the Upper Basin community. If the Tribes and Fishermen and farmers are going to be successfully in forging a bi-partisan solution, we will need your support too.

Sincerely,

S. Craig Tucker, Ph.D.

Klamath Campaign Coordinator
Karuk Tribe of California
office: 530-627-3446 x3027
cell: 916-207-8294
ctucker@karuk.us

www.karuk.us

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February 16, 2006

Michael J. Galvin, Administrative Law Judge
California Public Utilities Commission
505 Van Ness Avenue
San Francisco, CA.94102

Re:  PacifiCorp, Transition Rates for Klamath Irrigation Project (A.05-11-022)

Dear Judge Galvin:

The Karuk Tribe of California is aware of PacifiCorp’s general rate case proceeding referenced above.  It is our understanding that PacifiCorp, Klamath Water Users Association and the Department of Interior on behalf of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have reached agreement regarding a transition rate plan for customers that are covered by the 1956 Contract between PacifiCorp’s predecessor and the Department of Interior.  The Karuk Tribe is interested in the outcome of this proceeding as it affects the economy and resources of the Klamath Basin and our aboriginal territory.   

This letter is to advise you that while The Karuk Tribe reserves all rights to present evidence respecting the final rates and terms and condition of service for Klamath Project irrigators, we support the proposed Transition Rate Plan.  The Karuk Tribe also agrees to reduce the period for comment on any draft decision or alternative addressing the transition rates.

Sincerely,

S. Craig Tucker

Klamath Coordinator

Cc.       Commissioner Geoffrey F. Brown

            President Michael R. Peevey

            Commission John Bohn

            Commissioner Dian M. Grueneich

           Commissioner Rachelle Chong