‘Historic Step’ for Klamath Basin, Dams
February 17, 2010
SALEM, Ore. - Two historic agreements will
be signed on Thursday in Salem. They are expected to end years
of legal squabbles over water rights and river health in the
Klamath Basin of Southern Oregon and Northern California, and
also will step up plans to remove four dams on the Klamath
River.
Even after the official signing ceremony, there's a lot to be
done, from Congressional approval to review by the Public
Utility Commissions of both Oregon and California. Steve
Rothert, California director for the group American Rivers,
says the lengthy negotiations are necessary because of the
size and scope of the project.
"This will be the largest dam removal and river restoration
effort ever undertaken, even around the world; I have tried to
find other projects that match this project, but nothing does.
The restoration of the Everglades in Florida comes close."
American Rivers is one of more than two dozen groups
and agencies that took part in the negotiations. Rothert sees
the project as the start of a new future for the region. The
State of California, and PacifiCorp power customers in both
states, will be responsible for sharing the costs if studies
confirm that the dams should come out, an investment he says
will pay off.
"The increase in rates that California and Oregon customers of
PacifiCorp will see through the dam removal process is
actually significantly less of an increase than they would see
if the dams were kept in place, because it would cost so much
money to update those dams for safety and environmental
reasons."
Rothert is confident the outcome will be positive for the
local economy and for endangered salmon and wildlife. He
acknowledges, however, that not all groups involved in the
years of negotiations stayed at the table or agree with the
findings.
Under the Klamath Hydroelectric Settlement Agreement, the
target date for dam removal work to begin is 2020, although
Rothert says it could be earlier. A separate Klamath Basin
Restoration Agreement covers water quality and allocation, and
habitat restoration.
