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River
Friends of the River:
The problem is a series of hydropower dams owned by energy
company PacifiCorp. The dams were constructed without fish
ladders, and they block salmon from accessing upwards of 300
miles of spawning habitat. The dams produce little power and
provide no flood protection. The only thing they do is harm
the Klamath river and its salmon. Additionally, the dams have
devastating impacts on water quality in the Klamath River.
Recent analysis of water samples from Copco and Iron Gate
Reservoirs reveal extremely high levels of the toxic
blue-green algae Microcystis aeruginosa, which produces a
compound known to cause liver failure and promote tumor
growth. Samples taken from areas frequented by recreational
users of the reservoirs contained cell counts as much as 3,900
times greater than what the World Health Organization (WHO)
considers to be a “moderate health risk.”
PacifiCorp is currently seeking a license from the Federal
Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC—the agency responsible
for licensing hydropower dams) to operate the dams for another
30-50 years.
The time for restoration is now. Removal of the Klamath River
dams represents a key step in the restoration process as the
dams currently block access to more than 350 miles of historic
spawning grounds. If restored, the Klamath fishery would be
valued at over $4.5 billion, providing a much needed economic
boost to local economies.
Iron Gate Dam, and the three other outdated dams, are blocking
the salmon from returning home. This dam marks the beginning
of the hundreds of miles of historic spawning and rearing
habitat that is now unreachable to migrating fish. These dams
have outlived their usefulness. They are not used for
irrigation or flood control and according to the California
Energy Commission, the power produced by the dams would not be
missed if the dams were decommissioned.
Despite years of meetings with Tribes, fishermen,
conservationists, and agencies and what some experts consider
an ironclad case for the removal of PacifiCorp’s Klamath
dams, PacifiCorp’s licensing application fails to address
the critical issue of fish passage and doesn’t consider dam
removal. Worse yet, FERC recently issued a draft environmental
impact statement that recommends only modest changes to
current dam operations, perpetuating the harm to Klamath
salmon and the communities that depend on them.
FERC’s staff recommendation ignores the mandates of agencies
for fish screens and ladders, and calls for dam removal from
Tribes, conservation groups, and even NOAA Fisheries. The
proposal to allow PacifiCorp to drive fish around the dams not
only perpetuates the damage caused by PacifiCorp’s dams, but
it is illegal too.
FERC is woefully out of step with the rest of the Klamath
stakeholders. Filings from the states of California and
Oregon, four Klamath basin tribes, 10 environmental groups,
and a host of federal agencies all support removing the
Klamath dams. Even FERC’s own economic analysis shows that
removing the Klamath dams will cost less than constructing the
fish ladders and screens PacifiCorp will be required to
install under a new license.
Relicensing provides a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to bring
the salmon home. The State of California can demand protection
of the Klamath’s “beneficial uses” including water
quality, recreation, and fish habitat in the new license.
Therefore, Governor Schwarzenegger has the power to require a
feasible strategy to return salmon to the upper Klamath Basin.
You can help by exercising your public voice and asking
Governor Schwarzenegger to stand up for the future of the
Klamath River and demand that the salmon be brought home!
WRITE A LETTER
Please address your comments to:
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
State Capitol
Sacramento, CA 95814
*SAMPLE LETTER**
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Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
State Capitol
Sacramento, CA 95814
[Date]
Dear Governor Schwarzenegger,
The Klamath River is a special place that deserves
protection. The Klamath was once the third most productive
salmon fishery in the United States. However, after 80 years
of abuse by PacifiCorp and its predecessors, the Klamath is
in dire need of restoration. One key to restoring the
Klamath is the removal of the lower four dams that block
more than 300 miles of historic salmon spawning habitat.
The relicensing of the Klamath dams provide us with a
once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to protect this precious
resource. Please continue to take an active role in
restoring the Klamath, starting with the removal of dams
that block fish passage and degrade water quality. Help us
bring the salmon home!
Sincerely,
[Your name]
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