Tribe: PacifiCorp is holding up water quality certification 

 

By TY BEAVER 

H&N Staff Reporter

October 20, 2010

 

     Officials with the Hoopa Valley Tribe of California say PacifiCorp is intentionally stalling a water quality certification process for its Klamath River hydroelectric dams, but the utility countered that water quality is being improved and other state and federal reviews need to be considered.

 

   The California Water Resources Control Board recently granted a request to delay the water quality certification process until May 17, 2011, a year after the date set in the Klamath Hydroelectric Settlement Agreement, according to a release from the Hoopa Valley Tribe.  

 

   “PacifiCorp will keep stalling and avoid taking responsibility for the water quality disaster on the Klamath River as long as the state allows,” said Leonard Masten, Hoopa tribal chairman.

 

   PacifiCorp disagrees

 

   PacifiCorp spokesman Art Sasse said the company is looking forward to working with stakeholders on improving the ecosystem of the Klamath River.

 

   “…it’s insulting to the men and women on the state Water Board and to the entire state of California to suggest their thoughtful action will hurt the Klamath River,” he said in an email.  

 

   Water quality certification is a required step in relicensing the four dams for continued use, but the process was delayed when PacifiCorp and state and federal officials drafted the KHSA as a way of considering dam removal.

 

   A press release from the Hoopa Tribe said the river’s water quality issues need to be addressed now to prevent further damage to the river’s salmon fishery, including preventing a situation similar to the 2002 fish kill. Even if the dams are eventually removed, such action isn’t expected for years and would leave toxic algae blooms unchecked, the release stated. 

 

   Sasse said PacifiCorp has already undertaken various efforts to address water quality and other environmental concerns, which the water board acknowledged in its recent decision. He added the company plans to spend another $500,000 in the next two years to improve water quality.

 

   Other processes also need to be carried out before further action Sasse said state and federal agencies are conducting their own reviews of the dams and the California Public Utilities Commission has yet to make a final decision on a surcharge on PacifiCorp’s California customers to help pay for dam removal.