January 27, 2012 - Justice Blacksun, a member of the Klamath Tribes’ Forest Warriors, a crew that works on restoration projects around the region and earlier this month, the crew was clearing invasive trees from the Sycan Marsh, north of Bly.    The Forest Warriors program was established in 2010 to create a tribal workforce for restoration and forest management projects. It provides job training and employment in a community where both are hard to come by.  The crew works on a contractual basis, performing restoration work for private landowners, public agencies and environmental groups. The project at the Sycan Marsh is a partnership between the Forest Warriors; the Nature Conservancy, which manages a 30,000-acre preserve there; and Lomakatsi Restoration Project, an Ashland nonprofit that develops and oversees restoration projects.  Read more from yesterday's Klamath Falls Herald and News article Forest Warriors - Tribal group conducts restoration projects, gets on-the-job training.

Removing four Klamath River dams would provide $14 billion in short- and long-term economic benefits, according to a draft economic analysis released Tuesday by the U.S. Department of the Interior. The study estimates the low-range net economic benefit of $14.1 billion over a 50-year period, even with losses that would result from the elimination of hydropower, white water boating and other recreational activities. Public input on the report will be taken through Feb. 4. Copies are available online.  “Klamath Dam Removal Overview Report for the Secretary of the Interior: An Assessment of Science and Technical Information” was prepared as part of an ongoing process to provide Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar with information on whether to recommend removal of four Klamath River hydroelectric dams. A recommendation is expected this spring.  Read more from today's Klamath Falls Herald and News article Klamath River Dam Removal - Economic benefit at least $14 billion.

A draft report released Tuesday by the U.S. Department of the Interior says a landmark agreement to remove dams in the Klamath Basin will restore salmon and sustain irrigation for farmers in Southern Oregon and Northern California. The findings seem to support a bill recently introduced by Sen. Jeff Merkeley, D-Oregon, and North Coast Congressman Mike Thompson, D-St. Helena, that would authorize the Interior Department to decide whether to remove the four Klamath River dams. Thompson issued a statement on Tuesday urging his colleagues in Congress to act on the bill, which dam-removal proponents claim is being held hostage by the partisan rancor that is enveloping the Capitol. ”The synthesis of studies released today scientifically confirms that the agreements in place represent the best way forward for the Klamath River Basin and its communities,” Thompson said in the release. “Years of scientific and technical studies have concluded that the dam removals will not only benefit our river basin by restoring fish and wildlife habitats, it will strengthen our economy by creating thousands of jobs. The time for Congress to act is now.”  Read more from today's Times-Standard article Klamath draft report released; Thompson: 'The time for Congress to act is now'.