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Klamath Commissioner Brown: D.C. Trip was productive
Herald and News by Lee Juillerat, 8/2/08
Klamath County Commissioner Bill
Brown
Klamath County commissioner Bill Brown, who joined two Siskiyou County supervisors on a visit to Washington, D.C., earlier this week, didn’t learn all that he wanted, but said Friday he believes the visit was productive.
“ My main interest was to find what they’re up to because they’ve been so secretive,” Brown said of closed negotiations involving the future of four Klamath River dams between the states of Oregon and California, the Department of the Interior and Pacific Power. “I was disappointed to find out no one seems to know what’s going on.”
Brown said he was told an agreement in principle might be ready next week for public comment, but that time table apparently stalled.
“We were told several times it’s coming from the highest levels,” Brown said of why dam talks are happening. “I won’t name any names. You can draw your own conclusions.”
Brown said he met with agency officials and several lawmakers or their representatives, including Oregon Rep. Greg Walden, California Rep. John Doolittle, California Sens. Diane Feinstein and Barbara Boxer and Oregon Sens. Ron Wyden and Gordon Smith.
Brown, who opposes dam removal, said he expressed concerns about losing hydroelectric power and the lack of provisions to enforce understandings in a proposed water settlement agreement, and urged that Long Lake be considered for water storage.
He also remains concerned about provisions for salmon, explaining, “This would be an introduction of salmon, not a reintroduction.”