Cost estimates of upgrading
(Klamath) dams grossly inflated
That’s being done to make dam
removal look more attractive than adding fish ladders
By
Thomas Mallams, guest writer, Herald and News
10/18/09.
Thomas Mallams is president of Klamath Off-Project
Water Users Association.
The most aggressive media blitz in
the history of the state of Oregon is in progress.
This effort reminds me of an overly aggressive
obnoxious salesman trying to sell an inferior
product to an unsuspecting public.
The dam removal and Klamath Basin Restoration
Agreement seems to be continually forced along in
spite of widespread distrust and opposition to both
agreements. I believe now is the time for the public
to truly get involved in exposing the truth and
corrupt agendas of many involved in the process. The
public needs to have complete and correct
information on these issues so they can come to an
informed decision.
A recent news article on dam removal stated
PacifiCorp costs to upgrade all four dams as being a
total of $279 million. Any other costs they may
claim are still being kept confidential.
All these cost numbers are grossly inflated to
make dam removal appear more attractive than fish
ladders.
PacifiCorp statement misleading
It was also indicated actual estimated cost of
removal is still to be determined. This is at best a
very misleading statement from PacifiCorp.
True, there are additional studies being done,
but the federal government has already completed two
studies. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
completed a cost study in November 2007 and the
Department of Interior completed another cost study
(CDM report) in July 2008.
The CDM report was kept confidential until it
was leaked to the media the day after Senate Bill 76
was passed in the Oregon Senate in February of 2009.
Senate Bill 76 mandates Oregon ratepayers pay the
cost of dam removal.
Since PacifiCorp estimates appear to be at the
worst-case scenario for fish ladders and upgrades,
the FERC report estimates, in a worst-case scenario,
total dam removal costs at $4.4 billion. The CDM
report puts costs, in a worst-case scenario, in
excess of $1 billion. You do the math — $279
million as compared to $4.4 billion. This certainly
appears to be a blatant effort to hide the true
comparisons of dam removal cost verses cost of fish
ladders and upgrades.
The claim that destroying dams is the only way
to save the fish is completely unproven historically
or scientifically. In fact, history and science
actually indicates that the dams improve fisheries.
Dam removal supporters always point to algae in
the reservoirs, but continually ignore the historic
algae problems present in the Klamath River before
the dams were built.
Some of the largest salmon runs on the Klamath
River happened decades after all the dams were in
place. Science shows the dams actually cool the
water and provide sustained flows in the late
summer. The real cause of lower fish numbers will be
found in changing ocean conditions and massive
unregulated foreign fishing off our coast..
Our country seems to be losing its moral
compass. As an active informed public, we can direct
those in power to get us back on track where our
founding fathers intended us to be. It is always a
great temptation to yield or compromise our values
of right and wrong, but our country has compromised
our values to a point that we would not be
recognized by our grandparents, let alone our
founding fathers.
As written, these agreements attempt to give
Klamath Reclamation Project Irrigators a little
assurance of water deliveries. The problem is, this
so-called “block of guaranteed water” does not
magically appear. It will come from 0ff-Project
irrigators being shut off whenever the powers-to-be
feel fish or some other future endangered organism
needs more water.
Water wars won’t be
settled
The outcome of these issues will affect more
than the Klamath Basin.
The claim that these agreements will settle the
“Klamath Water Wars” is absolutely false.
If adopted, precedents will be established that
will greatly affect the entire State of Oregon,
including the Rogue Valley, as Oregon water law will
be changed or modified in these agreements.
Do you think for one solitary second, that dam
removal efforts will stop with the Klamath dams?
Dam-removal efforts in other areas such as the
Columbia and Snake rivers will be pushed even harder
than ever before.
Affordable, renewable, replacement power does
not exist to fill the gap if any of these hydro dams
are destroyed. I guess the last person leaving the
Klamath Basin won’t have to turn out the lights, as
there won’t be any electricity connected to the
switch.
|
|
