Attack on dam removal, KBRA, includes lies, racist overtones

Is this where local conservatives are heading? We hope the answer is no because the outright lies and racist overtones of the PAC's points opposing removal of the Klamath River dams are shameful. Thoughtful conservatives better wake up, because this group is grinding your credibility into the dust, and enticing you to embrace leadership that is anything but.

Maximum, not minimum

The PAC presents $450 million as the minimum cost of removal when in fact it is the maximum allowable cost for which states and ratepayers would be responsible.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission reported cost estimates from various sources for removing the lower four dams ranging from $38 million to $102 million, and generated their own estimate of $80 million that assumes no sediment dredging.

FERC estimated an upper limit of $4.4 billion if contaminated sediment forced dredging of all sediment from all reservoirs. So the PAC got the upper FERC estimate right, but fabricated the lower end and neglected the fact that the settlement agreement caps costs to the states and ratepayers at $450 million.

All of these cost estimates are for complete removal of the dams. Savings may emerge from removing only those parts of the dams necessary to allow for a free-flowing river. Federal studies are under way to produce a detailed cost estimate for use by the Interior Secretary in his determination of whether to proceed with removal. Costs to the states and ratepayers must come in under $450 million.

PacifiCorp has stated over and over that ratepayer costs under the settlement agreement are less than those likely if the dams are relicensed. The settlement agreement is the best deal available to ratepayers. FERC estimated in its environmental impact statement that a relicensed hydro project would annually produce power worth an average of $25.8 million, at an average cost of $46 million. Guess who would pay the difference?

If you want to oppose dam removal, fine, but do so realizing that you will pay more if the settlement does not move forward. The dam removal surcharge showed up on the April power bills - we each paid about 50 cents.

Even more disturbing is the PAC's claim that, beyond helping the Klamath Tribes purchase some private forest land, the KBRA provides $100 million to manage the forest for the next 10 years. What a blatant, outrageous lie! The KBRA provides the Klamath Tribes $5 million for conservation management, which may or may not be spent on managing the 90,000-acre forest.

Facts grossly distorted

Can anyone doubt the motive for singling out the Klamath Tribes in this manner, and for grossly distorting the facts around the land acquisition? Is the Klamath Conservative Voters PAC the most recent face on local racism?

We are sick and tired of the unrelenting hatred and opposition poured out towards the Klamath Tribes by groups like the PAC, Klamath Basin Alliance and several others.

The two settlement agreements are monuments to collaboration, innovative problem solving and a future vision for stable and peaceful communities that seemed impossible a few short years ago.

Nevertheless, the Klamath Conservative Voters PAC wants to tear them down and is willing to lie to accomplish this goal. Not the information source we intend to rely on when we vote and we hope you are wise enough to ignore them, too.

The authors

Larry Dunsmoor and Jeff Mitchell helped to negotiate the settlement agreements on behalf of the Klamath Tribes, but submit this commentary as their personal views.