Dams' fates remain unsure

November 20, 2007

By Michelle Ma

Triplicate staff writer

Federal officials recommended last week that dams on the Klamath River stay in place, but their continued operation is not guaranteed.

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) staff released a document last week suggesting that trapping and hauling fish around PacifiCorp's dams on the Klamath River would be the best option.

But even though the Commission's staff suggested leaving the dams in place, its analysis shows that it would be $7 million a year cheaper to remove four dams on the Klamath River than to let them continue operating with added fish passages that are required by federal agencies.

That finding is one more step toward dam removal as the most desirable option, stakeholders say.

"The bottom line is the (document) does make clear that taking out dams on the Klamath River is cheaper than leaving them in with the necessary repairs," said Troy Fletcher, policy analyst and Yurok Tribe member.

The document, known as the final environmental impact statement, is one of many factors that will guide the Commission to decide if PacifiCorp's hydroelectric project on the Klamath River should be allowed to operate for the next 30 to 50 years. The dams produce power for 70,000 customers.

Right now, it's unknown when FERC's five commissioners will make a decision about relicensing the dams, said Celeste Miller, spokeswoman with FERC. The Commission is waiting for water quality certification from both California and Oregon before it can make a decision, she said.

A draft of the environmental impact statement was released more than a year ago. The final document is significant because it forces the federal agency to consider and implement environmental measures into its decision over relicensing the dams.

But these recommendations don't include fish ladders or other improvements mandated by NOAA Fisheries and other federal agencies that must be in place if the dams are allowed to keep operating. It would be against the law not to include these mandated repairs in a final license.

FERC Spokeswoman Miller explained that these fish passage measures don't have to be outlined in this particular environmental impact document.

"In general, the mandatory conditions are put in licenses," she said.

Alongside, but completely separate from, the FERC process is a group of negotiators who hope to resolve Klamath River issues among stakeholders throughout the basin.

Issues discussed over the past three years in confidential meetings include water for irrigation and healthy water for salmon.

Del Norte County's Board of Supervisors has not participated in the talks, but representatives from Humboldt and Siskiyou Counties are involved. The Yurok Tribe also is one of the organizations heavily involved in the settlement talks.

The health of the Klamath River and its fisheries is a priority to the Yurok Tribe, and the best way to ensure that health is through dam removal, said Fletcher, who has been involved with settlement talks.

The different parties taking part in negotiations come to the table for different reasons, Fletcher said, but all desire stable communities within the Klamath River basin . That goal, he said, will be ensured by a restored river and healthy fisheries.

"We're going to continue to work our tails off to resolve the major issues on the Klamath River and achieve removal of four dams on the Klamath," he added.

Tribes, agencies and governmental bodies continue to review the lenghy FERC environmental impact document, but many have not changed their opinion of what the outcome should be. For Rep. Mike Thompson, D-Calif., the answer remains clear.

"Congressman Thompson has reviewed the report and continues to believe that removing the dams is the most cost-effective approach and the best way to recover threatened salmon," said Anne Warden, communications director.

Reach Michelle Ma at mma@triplicate.com.

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