How the river's future could play out

March 29, 2008

Triplicate staff

The fate of PacifiCorp's hydroelectric project on the Klamath River is on the minds of many who have a stake in the river. It is likely that one of two final outcomes will be reached: Either the power company receives another operating license for the project, or an agreement is reached among stakeholders and PacifiCorp to remove the dams.

That outcome is in a holding state as negotiators continue in confidential meetings with PacifiCorp to try to reach a deal that would make business sense for the power company. Here is a look at where each outcome could go next.

If settlement is reached...

•Under the current draft agreement, PacifiCorp must agree to remove its four hydroelectric dams on the Klamath River before the settlement can go forward.

•A number of stakeholders have said they won't support the current draft. Additions could still be made to the proposal that might garner support from these groups. Proponents have said support from all of the parties involved won't necessarily be needed to take the settlement proposal forward.

•If PacifiCorp does agree to remove its dams, stakeholders will go to Washington , D.C. , to ask the U.S. Congress to pass legislation needed to implement the agreement.

•The agreement requires $985 million over 10 years to implement. About half of that would be covered by redirecting existing funds from federal and state agencies.

If the dams are relicensed...

•The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is in the final stages of relicensing PacifiCorp's hydroelectric dams on the Klamath River to operate for another 30-50 years. The commission is still waiting on water quality certificates from Oregon and California . This would take at least another two years.

•After completing a final environmental impact statement, the commission recommended relicensing the hydro project with added trapping and hauling for fish. But federal wildlife agencies have mandated that fish ladders and screens be installed at each dam as part of relicensing.

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Source:  http://www.triplicate.com/news/story.cfm?story_no=8136