Agreement Reached on Klamath River Basin Restoration
02/18/2010
Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar joined Oregon
Governor Ted Kulongoski, California Governor Arnold
Schwarzenegger, PacificCorp Chief Executive Officer Greg
Abel and the chairmen of the Klamath, Yurok and Karuk
Tribes in announcing final agreements that could
potentially lead to removal of four dams on the Klamath
River and the
largest river restoration project in our nation’s
history.
The
Klamath Basin Restoration Agreement and the
Klamath Hydroelectric Settlement Agreement provide a
framework for removal of the dams by 2020 contingent on
Congressional approval and a scientific assessment by
the Interior Department confirming that their removal is
indeed in the public interest. The agreements also
outline activities that would be undertaken to restore
fisheries and provide water supply certainty to
communities and water users in the Basin.
“The Klamath River, which for years was synonymous with
controversy, is now a stunning example of how
cooperation and partnership can resolve difficult
conflicts,” said Secretary Salazar. “The Agreements
provide a path forward to meet the needs of local
communities, tribes, farmers, fishermen and other
stakeholders while restoring a beautiful river and its
historic salmon runs,” Salazar said.
Interior will undertake a rigorous, science-based
analysis, as well as a full analysis under the National
Environmental Policy Act, and make a final determination
by March 31, 2012, whether the benefits of removing the
dams will advance restoration of salmon in the Klamath
Basin and be in the public interest. The decision will
be made in consultation with state, local, and tribal
governments and other stakeholders, as appropriate.
The potential removal of the dams is a key piece of a
major restoration effort for the Klamath developed by
more than 30 diverse stakeholders, including California
and Oregon, three tribes, PacifiCorp, water users and
conservation groups. The restoration agreements, if
confirmed by Congress and fully implemented, would
provide sustainable allocation of water for fish
harvest, agriculture uses, national wildlife refuges,
and other users.